Improved Performance Of Earth Structures By Lime And Gypsum Addition

Abstract

Studies have been carried out to resolve the housing problems of poor people all around the world. Low-priced and fast construction systems, which can be built with local materials, have always been required. Adobe buildings have the capacity to meet this need and are the most suitable systems fulfilling the housing needs of almost 50% of the world’s population (Houben, 1994). Interest in adobe buildings, first built in Mesopotamia c. 7000 BCE, has recently increased due to needs for energy conservation, reduced pollution, environmental concerns and increased standards of living. Thus, studies and researchers have gained new perspectives. Adobe buildings have been reevaluated in numerous studies under current conditions and compared with modern materials. Not only are adobe buildings environmentally friendly, but they are also advantageous regarding production and service costs compared to buildings made from burned bricks (CID, 1993, Riza et al. 2010). Adobe constructions, besides their superiority, are criticized as needing repair (Kerali, 2001), having thick and heavy walls, relatively low compressive and shear strengths and in particular the possibility of becoming damaged under earthquake effects (Ural et al., 2011, Maheri et al., 2005). Damages in adobe buildings are associated with material quality, ground motion acceleration, wall slenderness, structural design and geometry which have an effect on building performance (Bariola and Sozen, 1990, Samali et al., 2011). In particular, it is recommended to take precautions to improve the performance of adobe buildings under earthquake risk. Using natural fibers (Vargas et al., 1986, Vega et al. 2011, Lertwattanaruk and Choksiriwanna, 2011), wooden reinforcements or welded steel reinforcements improves the strength of adobe materials and the performance of a building which presents nonlinear behavior. Stabilizing the earth with some additives in adobe manufacture, as well as the use of fibers and reinforcements, presents positive effects on building performance depending on better material performance. Many stabilization methods have been practiced IMPROVED PERFORMANCE OF EARTH STRUCTURES BY LIME AND GYPSUM ADDITION