Preliminary Evaluation of the Adoption of Machines for the Partial Mechanization of Adobe Production

Abstract

Earth as a construction material is being announced as capable to answer the construction sectors demands with considerable reductions on environmental impacts. It is an abundant raw material, commonly available at the construction site, which requires low energy consumption to be produced or transformed and which also doesnt need to be fired, what means that its production emits very small amounts of CO2. In terms of results for the built environment, it may provide excellent thermal and acoustic comfort, besides contributing to regulate the environments humidity. At the end of its cycle the material can be discarded bringing no harm to soil and water, it is rapidly absorbed by the environment conversely, it can be recycled by turning it into mud again, so it can be used to prepare new construction elements. However, in Brazil and in many other developing countries, the application of the earth construction technologies usually occurs as handmade work. Particularly on the adobe production, the blocks are mostly molded one by one or in pairs, depending on the type of the molds, aiming to accomplish a production of thousands of unities. The soil used for block molding has to be in a plastic consistency and, to achieve that quality, intensive human effort is generally employed. Considering those difficulties this paper intends to present an initial roll of machines used on production processes of Brazilian construction sector, and other industrial sectors, that can be integrated to adobe fabrication procedures to help mixing the mud. From the collected information, a preliminary evaluation will be formulated revealing which of the equipment contribute effectively for the comfort and safety of workers. Another factor that may be considered for this selection is the investment amount needed. As high costs interfere with the control of the means of production, the workers may have their access to this condition denied, situation that affects the possibility of social advances that can be promoted by the appliance of adobe.