Studies on the Ageing of Cement Stabilized Rammed Earth Material in Different Exposure Conditions.

Łukasz Rosicki,Piotr Narloch

doi:10.3390/ma15031090

Łukasz Rosicki, Piotr Narloch

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15031090

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Abstract

This paper aims to test the deterioration of cement stabilized rammed earth and consider its characteristics during its lifespan in various exposure conditions. Both visual and mechanical properties were tested to determine the impact of long-term exposure to natural weather conditions. Cemented stabilized rammed earth is a variation of the traditional rammed earth building material which has been used since ancient history and is strengthened by the addition of stabilizers in the form of Portland cement. This article analyzes the long-term properties of wall panels made of this material, which were subjected to varying exposure conditions for five years. After this period, compression tests of specimens cut from panels stored in various environmental conditions were carried out. Based on the results and visual properties of the specimens, long-term changes in unconfined compressive strength were observed and primary durability attributes were described. Despite minimal visible wear to the external layers of the wall panels, the natural weather conditions proved to deteriorate material strength characteristics, especially on specimens with high cement content. No correlation between visual characteristics and compressive strength measures were found. The present study is vital in adequately describing cement stabilized rammed earth behavior in natural weather conditions typical of a humid continental climate.

Highlights

One of the main problems with modern attempts to decrease the anthropogenic environmental impact of buildings is the high level of uncertainty in forecasting the longlasting properties of newly introduced solutions
Researchers emphasize the need for a broad approach to cement stabilized rammed earth (CSRE) assessment [1] as unconfined compressive strength testing in a standardized environment is not enough to provide sufficient information about individual mixtures and specimens, especially considering the material’s possible practical application
Long-term studies [2] focus primarily on erosion measurements, not compressive strength changes which could be decisive while designing buildings with rammed earth-based structures

Summary

Introduction

One of the main problems with modern attempts to decrease the anthropogenic environmental impact of buildings is the high level of uncertainty in forecasting the longlasting properties of newly introduced solutions. Even though rammed earth used to be one of the most popular construction materials used worldwide, the solution properties of modern cement stabilized rammed earth (CSRE) still require further studies, especially focusing on its durability and property alteration through time while being subjected to natural conditions. Long-term studies [2] focus primarily on erosion measurements, not compressive strength changes which could be decisive while designing buildings with rammed earth-based structures. Such studies usually investigate earth-based composites with no or only trace amounts of an additional binder. In order to find the most sustainable solutions for construction works in the future, precise data considering the characteristics of various materials and their change over time is needed. Most studies from zones with high humidity and harsh winters are usually focused on cement stabilized with agro-industrial wastes [3,4,5]

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