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The focus of the creative project was the artist exploration of altered forms and ash glaze techniques, as well as developing a new aesthetic of breaking free of old approaches, thus allowing him to express his emotions through the ceramic vessels. He developed and refined his technique of surface treatment on the vessels as he progressed through this project. His exploration into this new world of freedom helped him grow as an artist and emotionally.The artist desired to become a utilitarian potter at the beginning of his undergraduate studies but when he was introduced to the works of Paul Soldner, Peter Volkos, and Robert Piepenburg his interest in their works fueled his desire to expand his style of work. This lead to his exploration into altered vessels. / Department of Art

One-dimensional swelling tests were conducted on seven undisturbed and remoulded heavily-overconsolidated clays and indurated mudstones. The samples cover a wide range of properties in terms of geological age, mineralogy, plasticity and diagenetic bonds. It is found that swelling proceeds faster than is predicted by Terzaghi's theory of swelling at low overconsolidation ratios (OCR), but it is slower at high OCR values, probably due to the prominence of secondary swelling. The results show that swelling is of a progressive nature, regardless of plasticity and diagenetic bonds. The coefficient of swelling decreases and the ratio of secondary to primary swelling increases with increasing OCR. At high OCR's, the former drops by more than an order of magnitude below the coefficient of consolidation; the latter can be as high as 0.6 within a log-cycle of time. Progressive softening and failure phenomena in mudrocks are considered to be due to the combined effects of progressive swelling and breakdown of diagenetic bonds. Swelling pressure is found to be indicative of in situ stress conditions. The average swelling index generally increases with pre-consolidation pressure in remoulded samples. Three types of diagenetic bonds are postulated: carbonate cements, viscous-adsorbed-water-type, and mechanical adhesion. Bonds tend to decrease the swelling index and so increase the coefficient of swelling. The fabric of the samples is far different from that assumed in the double-layer theory, which can qualitatively predict the physico-chemical forces involved in swelling. Dead volume, in which the double-layer force cannot operate, is shown to be large. The results of tests using n-decane as pore fluid to suppress osmotic swelling indicates that mechanical swelling is more than 50 to 60 per cent of total swelling in the samples. Both mechanical and total swelling indices are linearly correlated with liquid limit among remoulded samples, except for the Fuller's Earth clay which contains at least 65 per cent smectite (expandable clay).

Clay coatings from a variety of soils were studied using the petrological microscope, the scanning electron microscope, the transmission electron microscope and various X-ray techniques in order to ascertain their morphology and composition. It was hoped that their mode of formation could also be determined.Thin section results showed that the morphology of the clay can be divided into seven types, according to the extinction patterns seen in crossed polarized light. These patterns indicate that the clay does not usually lie in flat parallel sheets, but that the sheets have a wavy form, with variations in wavelength and amplitude. Within the coatings there are frequently areas of clay which have no obvious orientation relationship to the main clay particle orientation.The scanning electron microscope work confirmed the optical results and also showed that in several cases, at low magnification, the surface of coatings have pseudohexagonal ridges and high magnification sharp ridges and overfolds are present i.e., the surfaces are not smooth. The most significant result from this part of the study was that clay coatings are not composed of tightly packed sheets of clay, but that these features have a very open packing. arrangement, with eliptical pores seen in cross-section.Elemental and mineralogical analysis indicated that the type of clay in the coatings is very dependant on the intensity of the weathering environment and that it is similar to the clay in the matrix.The results imply that clay illuviation is the dominant process responsible for clay coating formation.

This study aimed to investigate soil structural changes in two clay soils under different forms of cultivation and different crops, and to identify the main processes responsible. The range of definitions, classifications, methods of determination of structure and the factors and processes which affect soil structure are reviewed. At Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire, three sites were chosen at different stages in a seven year rotation and sampled throughout two growing seasons. At Compton Beauchamp, Oxfordshire, the effects of direct drilling, ploughing and permanent grazing on the soil structure were compared over one growing season.Rainfall and soil water content were recorded at both locations. Infiltration rates were recorded at Cruden Bay but variability in soil properties (texture, horizon thickness, structure) and climatic conditions at the three sites affected infiltration results so that its true value was difficult to assess. Plaster of Paris was used to preserve the seedbed for sampling, and to help identify field cracking and earthworm channels. Impregnated blocks were used to study structure. Macroporosity (pores >350 Jim) was measured by image analysis. Thin sections were prepared where necessary.At both locations differences in cropping and water extraction led to different field cracking patterns. At Compton Beauchamp pore continuity and earthworm activity were greater in the direct drilled and grass sites than in the ploughed site.The surface structure formed after seedbed preparation was composite subangular blocky/granular. The effects of shrinking was to create macropores, and the effects of swelling was to close macropores. Earthworm activity led to the development of channels, crescentic pores and vermicular structure. Since many of these processes are cyclic, the resulting structural states showed a cyclic recurrence.The results indicate the need for the concepts of incomplete and complete structure, composite structure and cyclical structural change.

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No description available.