Natural and innovative 55–75% fine sand Straw

construction materials Another source

15–25% clay, 50 to 250 mm (2 to 10 in)

natural materials Construction
the great mosque of dejene mali Straw

Iran  useful in binding the brick together

 allow brick to dry evenly
San pedro de Atkama Chile
 prevent cracking due to uneven
Gulele shrinkage rates

santa new w mexico

The followings are some of earth construction Modern adobe

 Earth Construction: Adobe is stabilized with up to 10% by weight with

 Rammed Earth  emulsified asphalt

 Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks  Portland cement

Adobe mud blocks Adobe bricks

Step

1. pressing the mud mixture into

an open timber frame
2. mixture is molded into the
frame
They are one of the oldest and most widely 3. removed after initial setting.
used building materials. 4. Drying
5. Slow drying in shade reduces
They dates back to 8000 B.C. cracking
6. assembled, adobe mud it to
Adobe = soil + water + local fiber
bond the individual bricks.
materials/dung
no standard size
Material Composition

Soil  25 pounds (11 kg);

most desirable soil 8 by 4 by 12 inches (20 cm × 10 cm × 30 cm)

 35 pounds (16 kg)

15% clay
10 by 4 by 14 inches (25 cm × 10 cm × 36 cm)
10–30% silt
 Maximum up to 100 pounds (45 kg)

Characterstics

 offer significant advantages due to their

greater thermal mass
Structures of rammed 2. particle size distribution,
3. amount of compaction,
earthworks 4. moisture content of the mix and
5. type/amount of stabilizer used
netheland embassy
To Increase durability
Advantage  are reinforce with rebars of high
seismic active area
 consumption of transportation are
 Adding cement (stabilized with
minimal
cement )for water resistance
 soil excavated in preparation for a
foundation can be used
 In colder climates, insulated with
 Formwork is removable Styrofoam or a similar insert
can be reused, reducing the need for  Blemishes SINOR , soil mixture as
timber. a plaster and sanded smooth
 suitable material for passive solar
heating
SIZE
 require at least one skilled person All
 thickness 30 to 35 centimeters (12 to
other workers can be unskilled or semi-
14 in),
skilled
 wall surface with oxide color for visual
Disadvantage
appeal
 inherently fireproof, resistant to termite  Warmth requires almost 12
damage, and non-toxic hours to be conducted
 High density , suitable for  More compaction= more soil +
soundproofing more labor
 reduce the ecological impacts of  too much gravel + too little
deforestation clay= susceptible to erosion.
 high thermal mass  require additional insulators in
absorb heat during daytime and colder climates
nocturnally release it  need over-hand roof protection
against erosion
moderates daily temperature variations  in areas with high rainfall.
and reduces the need for air
 labor intensive
conditioning and heating
 can not be easily corrected
Durability and Strength  expensive
 no high rise
compressive strength 
can have 10 to 20 MPa Strength
dictated by factors like,
 4.3 MPa
1. soil type,
Compressed Stabilized Earth
Blocks

compressed earth block (CEB)

unity adis
AKA pressed earth block or a compressed Hydraform Interlocking Soil
soil block
Block (hydraform block)
 damp soil compressed at high
AKA interlocking earth block
pressure to form blocks.
 use a mechanical press,  is made from soil
3,000 psi (21 MPa) compression cement(soil+cement + water)
And soil volume is reduced by about  is hydraulically compressed
half.
= cost savings only around 30% of the

material structure requires mortar

 40 - 75% sand + 25 - 60% Dimensions

fine (silt and clay)
 The sieve with diameter , 220 mm wide, 115 mm high and 230 mm
minimum diameter of the long

Character
grave particle size 2mm.
 Mortar Once manufactured ---- >"wet cured" for a
simple slurry period of 14–21 days (3week)
or cement mortar
Advantage
character
 no deforestation
 If stabilized, it is called compressed  Uniformity of blocks
stabilized earth block (CSEB) or  Low labor and materials costs
stabilized earth block (SEB).  Non-toxic
 Usually left exposed
 Sound resistant
 In tropical environments,  Sound resistant(earthen walls do not
polycarbonate varnish burn )
  Insect resistant: solid and very dense Soil Classification by particle
 The Machines size distribution
stabilised with just 10% cement.
Gravels: pieces of rock of varying hardness
Eliminating mortar joints in 70% of
the structure
Size: 2 and 20 mm

Sands: mineral particles

Wattle and Daub Size: 0.06 and 2 mm

AKA “Chika bet’’. Advantage

main defects  prevents the wet mud from sticking to

the sides of the mould
 easily be eroded by rain  sometimes used as a stabilizer
 mixed with very clayey soils to prevent
 Walls= extended shrinkage cracks cracking

 accelerate deforestation

 not much attractive Silts:

 health problems due to dust Size: 0.002 and 0.06 mm

 regular repair Clays: finest fraction of soils

Size: 0.002mm