Comprehensive test of tabia at the Humen Fort sites in Guangdong, China

Abstract

The Humen Forts, in Guangdong, were first built in the fifth year of Jiaqing dynasty (1801), and some of their bases were made using tabia. Modern inspection shows that the elastic modulus of some forts can reach 686.6 Mpa, a strength exceeding that of ordinary cement. To explore the fundamental cause of this high strength, we designed a set of comprehensive testing methods for the forts’ tabia, using XRD and ELISA, conducting TG-DSC, and so forth. The experiments were conducted through on-site testing, sampling, and laboratory research on seven sites to explore the influence of the original ratio of tabia on the material strength. And successfully discovered that the techniques and materials used in the construction of the forts were unlike, some areas feature sticky rice and protein as the main organic additives. These tests will provide a reference for further research on the production process of tabia and the preparation of protective materials for the Forts’ repair.