Behavior of cement-stabilized rammed earth circular column under axial loading

Abstract

Detailed study has been carried out on the load carrying capacity of cement stabilized rammed earth (CSRE) circular columns under axial compression. Tests on CSRE cylinders and columns were performed to determine the effects of concentric axial loading and slenderness ratio; and stress reduction factors were assessed. A comparative study was made between the ultimate compressive strength (σu) of columns determined using tangent modulus theory and experimental values. Furthermore, the validity of using masonry design rules for the design of CSRE columns was also assessed. The result shows that with increasing slenderness ratio the load carrying capacity of columns decreases. The ultimate compressive strength of column predicted by tangent modulus theory tend to converge with experimental values at higher slenderness ratio and the masonry codal predictions are observed to be un-conservative as compared to experimental reduction factors. Lastly, the characteristic strength determined for columns yields relatively higher safety factor and indicates that it is possible to construct a single storey load bearing houses when designed properly.