Assessing Cement Stabilized Rammed Earth Durability in A Humid Continental Climate

Piotr Narloch,Piotr Woyciechowski

doi:10.3390/buildings10020026

Abstract

The article compared the test results of a number of features determining the durability of rammed earth durability in a humid continental climate. The results of wet to dry compressive strength ratio, frost resistance, linear shrinkage, resistance to erosion under the influence of a stream of pressurized water, and resistance to erosion under the influence of cyclic wetting and drying were presented. All of the tests were done on the same soil-cement mixture. On this basis, it was determined which of the methods of durability assessment is more and which is less restrictive. A new method for assessing the durability of CSRE in a humid continental climate has been proposed, which is the frost resistance test. This test is determined by the method that is described in the national annex of the European concrete standard of one of the temperate climate countries. The article also shows that a minimum of 9% of the cement additive and a soil mixture containing a gravel fraction are required, in order to ensure adequate rammed earth durability in a humid continental climate (i.e., frost resistance).

Highlights

IntroductionThe construction industry consumes up to 40% of the energy demand in developed countries [1]
The research that is presented in the article showed that the frost resistance test is the most stringent durability testing method for cement stabilized rammed earth (CSRE)
Since this method is used in practice to assess the durability of a popular building material, concrete, authors suggest using it to verify the durability of CSRE in humid continental climate

Summary

Introduction

The construction industry consumes up to 40% of the energy demand in developed countries [1]. It is worth using building materials obtained locally that do not require transportation and an energy-intensive production process. A building that is made of these materials should be durable under certain environmental conditions. These criteria can be met, inter alia, with building materials and construction technologies while using raw earth. Based on a long history in hot and dry climate zones, raw earth materials can provide new technological solutions in building construction. While considering that the durability requirements will not be the same in different climate zones

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Conclusion