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Wed 25 Oct, 2006 06:24 pm
I was looking at photographs on the Guardian newspaper's website, and ran across these photos of sand sculpture done this last June -
SAND SCULPTURE AT BRIGHTON
My favorite -
How do they keep the sand sculpture from collapsing as the water dries? Do they add a polymer or something?
The sand is highly compacted before they carve it. Afterwards they spray it with diluted glue.
Ahh soo. Something like Elmer's?
Don't have Elmer's here. Any sort of water soluble craft glue I s'pose.
The caption for the 6th picture says
Quote:The sculptures, made only from sand and water, are said to be able to withstand buffeting Force 7 winds.
Yeah, the glue spray is just to make it last longer once it's finished. The things that make it strong are the water, the type of sand they use, and the fact it is compacted before carving. The sand is like builders sand, you can't just use the sand from the beach. It's too weathered to hold together.
Sand that is subrounded or angular (this has to be mined and screened for size grading) actually compacts better than naturally rounded and fine grade beach sand. Compaction occurs best if sand particles can interlock .
Thats why beach sand is usually pretty much useless for the building industry unless its just for concrete bulking.
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