Pre-Perforated Post-Reinforced Structural Panels of Baked Clay as Cheaper Alternative of RCC Construction

Abstract

The lack of resources in third world countries and unaffordability of modern materials of construction including RCC by common man has led of the use of local materials by employing technical approach for construction of houses without sacrificing the strength and durability at relatively lower cost than reinforced concrete. Therefore systematic research has been initiated to test the strength and other structural properties of pre-perforated post-reinforced baked clay beams of clay which have been compacted through compression to verify its suitability as major material of construction. A large number of beams have been tested and it is quite possible that this would serve as major material of construction in the areas where the soil is alluvial in nature and the cost of transportation of material is substantially higher and would render the RCC construction uneconomical. To start with twenty five sites were selected at different locations and basic material properties such as compressive strength, tensile strength, poisson's ratio and modulus of elasticity were determined after baking at uniform temperature and by applying reasonable compression for compaction. The effect in terms of natural salts and alkalinity were studied in order to find the best possible ratio in terms of clay, silt, pit-sand and other impurities. Here a number of beams were tested without shear reinforcement. The results did not differ drastically from those of RCC and therefore it holds promise for further research to be carried out.