Analysis of Adobe-Clay as an Envorinmental-Friendly Structural Material

Abstract

The research topic is the analysis of adobe-clay as a structural material. The behaviour of adobe brick elements of different mixtures were examined. The bricks of various ratios of clay, straw, reed and sawdust were involved in the experiment, in which the process of drying and shrinkage was investigated. Even though only a few data have been obtained so far, some important conclusions were drawn. The first drying period was approximately three weeks long in the laboratory. The tests have shown that organic components like straw, reed and sawdust slow down the drying process. In case of each mixture, a change of weight was observed sooner than shrinkage. The aim of the research is to promote the application of this building material.

Full text

Analysis of adobe-clay as an envorinmental-friendly stuctural material
O. Csicsely Ágnes1,a, Józsa Zsuzsanna PhD2,b, Sajtos István PhD3,c
1,3Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Strength of Materials and
Structures, Hungary, 1111, Budapest Mőegyetem rkp. 3.
2Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Construction Materials and
Engineering Geology, Hungary, 1111, Budapest Mőegyetem rkp. 3.
acsolyka@silver.szt.bme.hu, bzsjozsa@epito.bme.hu,
Keywords: adobe-clay brick, drying shrinkage, compressive strength test.
Abstract. The research topic is the analysis of adobe-clay as a structural material. The behaviour of adobe
brick elements of different mixtures were examined. The bricks of various ratios of clay, straw, reed and
sawdust were involved in the experiment, in which the process of drying and shrinkage was investigated.
Even though only a few data have been obtained so far, some important conclusions were drawn. The first
drying period was approximately three weeks long in the laboratory. The tests have shown that organic
components like straw, reed and sawdust slow down the drying process. In case of each mixture, a change
of weight was observed sooner than shrinkage. The aim of the research is to promote the application of
this building material.
Introduction
There has been a renaissance of earth architecture recently not only in Hungary but also all over the world.
It is well-known that adobe is an ecological building material and has several favourable properties. At the
same time, some people do not find it good and durable enough for wall structures. Based on a series of
experiments, the research attempts to prove that this building material has a great future in architecture.
My research topic is the analysis of adobe-clay as a structural material. The aim of the research is to make
the application of this building material more widespread. As a first step, straw clay bricks were
examined, and the effects of various components were analysed. In the second step the behaviour of the
clay masonry wall was analysed. This paper presents the results of the research.
About production of straw clay bricks
The bricks were produced in Magyarszombatfa, in Hungary with the assistance of Mr. Sándor Mezei.
Nine different compositions were made, in each of them the ratio of components were different (See
Table 1 for data.). The quantities are given in volumetric ratio. The materials for the bricks were mixed by
hand and compacted by a hydraulic press, type VP 001, developed by BUTE.
Fig. 1. Production of bricks
Materials Science Forum Online: 2007-02-15
ISSN: 1662-9752, Vols. 537-538, pp 17-24
doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.537-538.17
© 2007 Trans Tech Publications Ltd, All Rights Reserved
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