Thermal characteristics of dwellings with bamboo-woven mud walls in summer: A case study

Abstract

Bamboo is a rapidly regenerating resource that can be used as a substitution for primary building materials with high embodied carbon. However, the bamboo-woven mud wall, which is a unique and low-cost enclosure wall, has received limited attention in previous studies. To assess the thermal performance of this construction during summer, this work conducted field measurements on a traditional dwelling with bamboo-woven mud walls (Building A) and a reference brick-concrete dwelling (Building B) in the hot and humid area with abundant bamboo resources. The experimental findings indicate that while Building A is more sensitive to temperature changes compared to Building B, it proves to be more suitable for the hot and humid climate, especially during summer nights. On the contrary, Building B is characterized by its substantial weight and is more favorable during summer days. Furthermore, through optimizing the construction of bamboo-woven mud walls and implementing adjustable natural ventilation techniques, the traditional bamboo building can be retrofitted using cost-effective local methods. This study demonstrates superior overall thermal performance and improved thermal stability of vernacular dwellings with bamboo-woven mud walls in hot and humid regions, in comparison to modern brick-concrete structures. These findings also serve as a valuable reference for the ongoing development of affordable, climate-responsive passive buildings.