Natural additives and biopolymers for raw earth construction stabilization – a review

2021 ◽  
Vol 304 ◽  
pp. 124507
Author(s):  
A.E. Losini ◽  
A.C. Grillet ◽  
M. Bellotto ◽  
M. Woloszyn ◽  
G. Dotelli
Keyword(s):  
Earth Construction ◽  
Raw Earth ◽  
Natural Additives

scholarly journals Design Optimisation Strategies for Solid Rammed Earth Walls in Mediterranean Climates

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 325
Author(s):  
Giada Giuffrida ◽  
Maurizio Detommaso ◽  
Francesco Nocera ◽  
Rosa Caponetto
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Construction Material ◽  
Base Material ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Rammed Earth ◽  
Earth Construction ◽  
Material Choice ◽  
Earth Walls ◽  
Raw Earth

The renewed attention paid to raw earth construction in recent decades is linked to its undoubted sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and low embodied energy. In Italy, the use of raw earth as a construction material is limited by the lack of a technical reference standard and is penalised by the current energy legislation for its massive behaviour. Research experiences, especially transoceanic, on highly performative contemporary buildings made with natural materials show that raw earth can be used, together with different types of reinforcements, to create safe, earthquake-resistant, and thermally efficient buildings. On the basis of experimental data of an innovative fibre-reinforced rammed earth material, energy analyses are developed on a rammed earth building designed for a Mediterranean climate. The paper focuses on the influences that different design solutions, inspired by traditional bioclimatic strategies, and various optimised wall constructions have in the improvement of the energy performance of the abovementioned building. These considerations are furthermore compared with different design criteria aiming at minimising embodied carbon in base material choice, costs, and discomfort hours. Results have shown the effectiveness of using the combination of massive rammed earth walls, night cross ventilation, and overhangs for the reduction of energy demand for space cooling and the improvement of wellbeing. Finally, the parametric analysis of thermal insulation has highlighted the economic, environmental, and thermophysical optimal solutions for the rammed earth envelope.

scholarly journals Using Raw Earth Construction Systems on Contemporary Buildings: Reflections on Sustainability and Thermal Efficiency

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Bruno Marques ◽  
Humberto Varum ◽  
Helena Corvacho ◽  
Manuel Correia Guedes ◽  
Luís Baptista
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Construction Material ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Building Energy ◽  
Good Choice ◽  
Building Energy Efficiency ◽  
Earth Construction ◽  
European Policies ◽  
Energy Efficiency Policies ◽  
Raw Earth

Although the existence of building energy efficiency policies for several years, studies show that up to 74% of the participant consider their house uncomfortable. European policies favored construction solutions focused on insulating materials rather than other solutions which traditionally were used and proved to be effective. Construction system that uses earth as construction material showed for centuries that it can offer high levels of thermal comfort in a passive way, with a highly sustainable and quasi-neutral environmental impact. With this paper, a study on the thermal performance of three contemporany rammed earth buildings is presented. The aim is to analyze thermal comfort over a critical period of time. It is expected that earth construction proves to be a good choice, creating a sustainable and better integration with the local environment, with almost zero energy incorporation, promoting the local work craftmen and with a construction range price below the common construction systems.

Earth Construction and Sustainability

2014 ◽  
Vol 634 ◽  
pp. 433-446
Author(s):  
Normando Perazzo Barbosa ◽  
Khosrow Ghavami
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Economic Model ◽  
Building Material ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Basic Needs ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Earth Construction ◽  
Present Generation ◽  
Raw Earth

This paper presents some considerations on the impacts of industrialized construction materials to Planet Earth. It comments about sustainability and show that large part of the present generation has not met their basic needs, starting with the house. So, in this context, with the actual economic model, it becomes difficult to ensure that future generations are able to meet their own needs. Some considerations about possibilities of building with reduced environmental impact is presented. Comments about raw earth as building material are made. New possibilities to give stability to this material against water action is discussed. Finally, it shows some contemporary constructions made with earth in Brazil.

scholarly journals Raw Earth Construction Perspectives in Italy: An Overview Through the Rehabilitations of Casa Fenu in Villamassargia, Sardinia, and Casa di Teresa in Casalincontrada, Abruzzo

2021 ◽  
pp. 409-422
Author(s):  
Martina Bocci
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
Earth Construction ◽  
Construction Techniques ◽  
Extensive Documentation ◽  
Earthen Construction ◽  
Homo Faber ◽  
Raw Earth

A detailed analysis of the rehabilitation processes of two publicly owned buildings in Sardinia and Abruzzo is taken as a basis for describing the background, difficulties and possible future developments of raw earth as a building material in Italy. Earthen construction techniques, despite a rich tradition and extensive documentation, are still considered outdated, and their use today requires a fortunate confluence of contextual factors. Archival research, literature review and a study of manuals were coupled with an examination of urban plans and public policies, as well as interviews with experts and stakeholders. This multi-approach research shows that there is a strong need to appropriate traditional knowledge so as to translate local skills into viable solutions able to meet today’s needs. The key issue may be investment in training and dissemination. The mindset of the artisan, that of the homo faber (Sennet 2008), needs to be more widely associated with action toward sustainable local development.

scholarly journals Técnica de alvenaria adobe: Reprodução do método construtivo com e sem o uso de fibra vegetal

UNICIÊNCIAS ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-13
Author(s):  
Mariana Aparecida Giraldelli ◽  
Osvaldo Alves Pereira ◽  
Samuel Felipe Dos Santos ◽  
Mirela Aguiar Brasil ◽  
Stefani Karoline Teodoro Pinheiro
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Strength ◽  
Construction Method ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Simple Construction ◽  
Earth Construction ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Engineering ◽  
Raw Earth ◽  
Vegetable Fiber

A técnica construtiva do adobe é um método de alvenaria em que se utilizam blocos em terra crua que possui como principal matéria prima o solo. De maneira geral, esta técnica proporcionou grandes feitos na historia da humanidade e reproduz com legitimidade um método construtivo simples, de fácil acesso e sustentável. Esta técnica bioconstrutiva é uma proposta de investimento para vários estudos, pois é um método que acompanhou a história da engenharia e da arquitetura e é possível ser aperfeiçoado podendo ser feita de várias formas possíveis com diversos agregados. Este trabalho apresenta a técnica do adobe que é uma alternativa sustentável para construções artesanais, assim como a experiência com a técnica e a mudança de comportamento para a confecção dos blocos com diferentes proporções de fibra vegetal em sua constituição, sendo que esta adição é normalmente feita para auxiliar na capacidade de resistência mecânica do bloco. Este trabalho consiste na mescla de uma revisão narrativa e a reprodução da confecção da técnica, sendo a primeira baseada em livros, artigos, seminários e demais obras cientifica que abordam o tema de construções em terra crua com destaque na técnica adobe, abordando os principais pontos para a confecção dos blocos e comparando os modos de confecção.   Palavras-chaves: construção em terra crua; adobe; bloco de terra crua.   Abstract The constructive technique of adobe is a masonry method in which blocks are used on raw earth whose main raw material is soil. In general, this technique provided great achievements in the history of humanity and legitimately reproduces a simple construction method, easily accessible and sustainable. This bioconstructive technique is an investment proposal for several studies, as it is a method that has followed the history of engineering and architecture and it is possible to be perfected and it can be done in several possible ways with different aggregates. This work presents the adobe technique, which is a sustainable alternative for artisanal constructions, as well as the experience with the technique and the change in behavior for the making of blocks with different proportions of vegetable fiber in their constitution, and this addition is usually made to assist in the mechanical strength of the block.This work consists of a mixture of a narrative review with empirical preparation, the first being based on books, articles, seminars and other scientific works that address the theme of constructions on raw earth with emphasis on the adobe technique, addressing the main points for the making of the blocks and drawing a comparison about this production.   Keywords: raw earth construction; adobe; block of raw earth.

Earth Construction

1989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Houben ◽  
Hubert Guillard
Keyword(s):  
Earth Construction

Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Aqueous Extracts Obtained from Herb of Tansy (Tanacetum Vulgare L.)

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 1041-1044
Author(s):  
Claudia Anca Mot ◽  
Andreea I. Lupitu ◽  
Simona Bungau ◽  
Ciprian Iovan ◽  
Dana Maria Copolovici ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Veterinary Medicine ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industry ◽  
Phenolic Content ◽  
Food Preservation ◽  
Aqueous Extracts ◽  
Tanacetum Vulgare ◽  
High Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Natural Additives

The aim of this study was to determine the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of extracts obtained from herb of Tanacetum vulgare L. (tansy) harvested in two different locations from the western part of Romania. Aqueous extracts of tansy presented high antioxidant activity that ranged between 295.77 and 653.65 mg GAE/L, and remarkable percentage of inhibition (31.82-65.05 %). The compounds quantified in the plant extracts that were determined by UHPLC are: ascorbic acid, riboflavin, pyrocatechol, rutin, quercetin, and kaempferol. Extracts obtained from tansy flowers showed higher content of phenols compared to that obtained from leaves. Similarly, the flower extracts present a high antioxidant activity that could suggest their use as natural additives in food preservation and also in pharmaceutical industry and veterinary medicine.

scholarly journals Clay-Based Products Sustainable Development: Some Applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1364
Author(s):  
Michele La Noce ◽  
Alessandro Lo Faro ◽  
Gaetano Sciuto
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Compressive Strength ◽  
Elastic Modulus ◽  
Basalt Fibers ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Clay Bricks ◽  
Brick Powder ◽  
Alkaline Resistance ◽  
Raw Earth

Clay has a low environmental impact and can develop into many different products. The research presents two different case studies. In the first, the clay is the binder of raw earth doughs in order to produce clay-bricks. We investigate the effects of natural fibrous reinforcements (rice straws and basalt fibers) in four different mixtures. From the comparison with a mix without reinforcements, it is possible to affirm that the 0.40% of basalt fibers reduce the shrinkage by about 25% and increase the compressive strength by about 30%. Future studies will focus on identifying the fibrous effects on tensile strength and elastic modulus, as well as the optimal percentage of fibers. In the second study, the clay, in form of brick powder (“cocciopesto”), gives high alkaline resistance and breathability performance, as well as rendering and color to the plaster. The latter does not have artificial additives. The plaster respects the cultural instance of the original building. The research underlines how the use of a local (and traditional) material such as clay can be a promoter of sustainability in the contemporary building sector. Future studies must investigate further possible uses of clay as well as a proper regulatory framework.

scholarly journals Biocomposites of Epoxidized Natural Rubber/Poly(lactic acid) Modified with Natural Fillers (Part I)

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 3150
Author(s):  
Anna Masek ◽  
Stefan Cichosz ◽  
Małgorzata Piotrowska
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Natural Rubber ◽  
Epoxidized Natural Rubber ◽  
Poly Lactic Acid ◽  
Uv Aging ◽  
High Elasticity ◽  
Natural Fillers ◽  
Natural Additives

The study aimed to prepare sustainable and degradable elastic blends of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) that were reinforced with flax fiber (FF) and montmorillonite (MMT), simultaneously filling the gap in the literature regarding the PLA-containing polymer blends filled with natural additives. The performed study reveals that FF incorporation into ENR/PLA blend may cause a significant improvement in tensile strength from (10 ± 1) MPa for the reference material to (19 ± 2) MPa for the fibers-filled blend. Additionally, it was found that MMT employment in the role of the filler might contribute to ENR/PLA plasticization and considerably promote the blend elongation up to 600%. This proves the successful creation of the unique and eco-friendly PLA-containing polymer blend exhibiting high elasticity. Moreover, thanks to the performed accelerated thermo-oxidative and ultraviolet (UV) aging, it was established that MMT incorporation may delay the degradation of ENR/PLA blends under the abovementioned conditions. Additionally, mold tests revealed that plant-derived fiber addition might highly enhance the ENR/PLA blend’s biodeterioration potential enabling faster and more efficient growth of microorganisms. Therefore, materials presented in this research may become competitive and eco-friendly alternatives to commonly utilized petro-based polymeric products.

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