Construction with rammed earth

In Europe there is a growing interest in the use of earth as a construction material due to its low environmental impact and its low energy consumption. But earthen constructions often require energy rehabilitation since they do not usually meet the thermal insulation requirement in cold climates.

In order to be able to characterize it well, it is necessary to know its composition, both in aggregates and in the level of binders (clay).

To determine its resistance to compression, the amount of water that has been executed and the environment in which it is located should be taken into account.

With regard to thermal insulation, it is interesting to use technologies of low environmental impact and with sustainable materials, in order to be able to follow in accordance with the characteristics of theearthen construction. In addition, the wall coverings with fiber plant also collaborate.

Within this research area, a prototype called House S-low was constructed in Barcelona (mediterranean climate), with various materials (earth, earth with cement and earth with arlite) in order to monitor its behavior thermal for a year. Later, an external isolation was placed and, above of it, different clay plasters with vegetable fiber were tested. This prototype was compared to a similar one, but located in a continental climate.

Currently, GICITED is working on the methodology of preparation of specimens and earth stabilization in order to obtain representative and comparable results about its mechanical characterization, with destructive and non-destructive tests.

Main results of this research area:

M. Bosch, A. Navarro, L. Allepuz, C. Poza. Proyecto Casa S-Low: construcción del prototipo y experiencia docente. “La arquitectura construida en tierra, Patrimonio y Vivienda” –Congreso de Arquitectura de Tierra, CIATTI (Valladolid, 2013).

Navarro, A.; Lacasta, A. M; Palumbo, M.; Garcia, D.; Milla, L. Revestimientos con tierra y fibras vegetales: metodología de estudio. “La arquitectura construida en tierra, Patrimonio y Vivienda” –Congreso de Arquitectura de Tierra, CIATTI (Valladolid, 2013).

Navarro Ezquerra, A.; Bosch, M.; Rincon, L.; Serrano, S.; Cabeza, L. F. Experimental rammed earth prototypes in Mediterranean climate. “International Conference on Vernacular Heritage, Sustainability and Earthen Architecture” (Valencia 2014)

Navarro Ezquerra, A.; Palumbo, M.; Gonzalez-Sánchez, B.; Lacasta, A. M. Performance of clay-straw pasters containing natural additives. “International Conference on Bio-based Building Materials” (Clermont Ferrand 2015)

Navarro Ezquerra, A.; González-Sánchez, B.; Rincón, L. Correlación de NDT versus resistencia a compresión en tapia. Conference: XIIe Congrès mondial sur les architectures de terre (Lyon 2016)

Navarro Ezquerra, A.; Palumbo, M.; González-Sánchez, B.; Rincón, L.; Lacasta, A. M. Revestimiento de fibras vegetales en sistemas de aislamiento de tapia. Conference: XIIe Congrès mondial sur les architectures de terre (Lyon 2016)

Serrano, S.; Rincón, L.; González-Sánchez, B.; Navarro Ezquerra, A.; Bosch, M.; Cabeza, L. F. Rammed earth walls in Mediterranean climate: Material characterization and thermal behaviour. International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies 12(3):281-288 (2017)