An Experimental Study on Clay and Sand Mixes to Develop a Non-Linear Homogenized Model for Earth Construction Materials

Due to its ecological interest and large availability, a renewed attention is paid to earth as building material. Indeed, raw earth consumes CO2 only during its processing and transportation, and it provides a natural hygrothermal comfort. However, its mechanical properties are highly linked to its composition, which causes an important variability of performances. That is why any soil has to be characterized before being used as a building material. The aim of this study is to propose a model able to predict the hydromechanical behavior of a reconstituted soil according to its composition. As earth is a heterogeneous material, the model is based on homogenization procedures. The sand is considered as spherical inclusions inside a clay matrix. The particularity of the model stands to consider both positive and negative effects of volume variation and mechanical properties of clay under hydric variations. The model parameters are determined according to an original experimental campaign, which is conducted on various mixes of a single type of clay (kaolinite) and of sand, and water. The experimental study provides some mechanical properties of the mixes versus water content and sand content to test the ability of the homogenization model to assess the main properties of this material.

Organic Brick

Clay is one of the earliest known material used in construction, and the most widely used building material on the planet. Our ancestors have performed the tasks of mixing water with dust to make clay, then shaping it into bricks, bricks into buildings, and buildings into cities for more than ten thousand years. In recent years, 3D printing technology has become increasingly popular thanks to its ability to manufacture complex morphologies and to optimize physical and mechanical properties for specific applications. This study investigates customized 3D clay bricks as a new building material (building component) by employing resources that are eco-friendly, locally available, inexpensive, and driven from recycled sources or waste streams. In this experiment, four different fiber types have been investigated with different clay treatment. The specimens were fabricated in the laboratory and tested with unconfined compression loading. The strength and ductility of the clay specimens were then analyzed based on the experiment results. Several experiments have been conducted during the study for understanding the effects of different fibers when mixed with clay in order to identify which type of fibers and which size has the most effective influence on its compression strength. Furthermore, it has been tested also the water absorption of the 3D printed brick. A case study has been developed to show the actual potential of 3D printed clay bricks for a small housing complex. The project is located in a village near to Abuja, Nigeria, at a time of exponential population increase and associated lack of affordable housing. The 3D printed blocks embed a cooling function, thanks to their geometry and the presence of cooling pipes directly in the wall. The result is a highly flexible envelope, designed to be resilient and energy efficient.

Construction Field Monitoring of a COB Prototype Building

Cob is an earthen building material made by soil, fibres and water used for millennia. However, cob construction disappeared out during the nineteenth century. These last years, it is experiencing a renaissance in Northwestern France and Southern England. Due to a limited technical knowledge, the investigation of engineering properties is important for modern design practice and code requirements. Moreover, to ensure building properties, it is necessary to have same quality mix along the building phases. The aim of this study is to determine material variation during the monitoring of a cob prototype building in Normandy (France). This study investigated structural cob mix composition, water content, density, mechanical properties and thermal conductivity. Specimens shape used were cylindrical 110 x H220 mm and prismatic 300 x 300 x 70 mm. Results indicated a variation in cob mix (water content, materials proportions) between three different lifts. These variations lead to different densities and, consequently, to variables compressive strengths: 0.99 to 1.38 MPa and thermal conductivities from 0.610 - 0.816 W.m-1∙K-1.

The Impact of Integrating Phase Change Material Upon Indoor Air Temperature in Hot Climates

The aim of this paper is to identify the effect of PCM as a building material of commercial building envelope on the indoor air temperature within a hot climatic context as Egypt. This paper will expose the potentials of using Phase Change Material (PCM) as an integral part of the building process to save energy, where it first introduces the current environmental challenges and identifies the impact of Thermal Energy Storage as a sustainable approach. Two different types of PCM will be tested in an experimental space in Egypt on different building model orientations and different PCM allocations, to test their effect on indoor air temperature. This will be practically examined by DesignBuilder simulation, to explore the possibilities of improving indoor thermal comfort within the studied types. Finally, conducting a set of recommendations for PCM application as a building material within the Egyptian context.

Aantekeninge: Verblyfvergunning is nie outomaties habitatio nie en totale skade omvat skade gely weens inbreuk op die eiser se vervullingsbelang

According to the headnote attached to the most recent decision under discussion, the litigation turned on the quantification of the total loss suffered by M as alleged holder of a right of habitatio after S as reputed owner of the farm revoked the verbal agreement between the parties entitling M to occupy the dwelling ad infinitum on condition that he renovates the dwelling to a habitable state. Notwithstanding the conviction of the judges involved, it is clear that at no stage were any of the requirements for the acquisition or vesting of a limited real right of habitatio complied with. No limited real right was registered against the farm and S as the alleged grantor of the limited real right was at no stage the owner of the property. He could not have been entitled to burden the property of another with such limited real right. A contractual arrangement between the parties, however, did exist granting the claimant an entitlement to occupy the dwelling. The initially friendly relations between the litigants soured abruptly in February 2013 when S evicted M from the farm because of a supposed blasphemous comment by M. This happened after the claimant had already invested significantly in the restoration and modernisation of the old dilapidated dwelling. “The plaintiff regarded this as a repudiation of the contract between him and the defendant, accepted it as such and left the farm, effectively halting the renovation project” (par 14 read with par 5.4 of the 2016-decision). His claim for compensation of the loss suffered was held by the court to be limited to the amounts reflected in the receipts representing the cost of building material when it was acquired. It is submitted that the court should also have taken note of the loss suffered as positive interest, because the claimant forfeited the calculated benefit of life-long free occupation in the restored dwelling. Because of the underlying agreement between the parties to the litigation, the patrimonial benefit that accrued to the estate of the owner of the farm due to the objective rules of accessio cannot be classified as actionable unjustified enrichment. The principles of unjustified enrichment do not apply – the resulting detriment or loss of M was cum causa and not sine causa. The remarks of the court pointing to unjustified enrichment do not convince. Damages should have been calculated to cover the loss in positive interest of the claimant and not merely his negative interest, ie the amounts paid for the building material used in the renovation. The court, however, held: “I’m satisfied that the plaintiff has adduced sufficient evidence to prove his claim for the costs of renovating the farmhouse on a balance of probabilities” (par 23). The last mentioned mode of quantification of the loss suffered would have been more in place where merely a delict was involved, as eg where the damaged motor vehicle should be repaired to the state it was in before the accident occurred. Had the judges in this case done a correct assessment of loss upon cancellation for breach of contract, it would have led to a respect of the rule of law and would not have been to the detriment of the claimant. The legal principles that should have been applied had already been clearly formulated more than a century ago: “The sufferer by such a breach should be placed in the position he would have occupied had the contract been performed, so far as that can be done by the payment of money, and without undue hardship to the defaulting party …” Victoria Falls & Transvaal Power Co Ltd v Consolidated Langlaagte Mines Ltd (1915 AD 1 22).

Comparative study on Conventional and Smart Building Material in terms of TQC

There are several new-age „smart‟ building materials which are cost effective and long lasting and which would help to build or rebuild smart buildings, as a more eco- friendly and sustainable habitat. In India since ancient time construction is done by using conventional building materials. But now a days concept of smart building materials is introduced. These are durable, eco-friendly, cost effective. Still use of conventional materials is more than smart building materials. Due to lack of knowledge about smart building materials we don't use such materials. Control over quality and sustainability of finished building. Justification of the environmental cost of manufactures. So with the help of project i.e. Comparative study between smart and conventional building, there is comparison as per cost, strength, durability. In this, how both buildings are different in their features like long lasting life, implementation of materials, speed of construction, sustainability of materials is shown. For this project there is use of software for developing, analyzing and designing the reinforced concrete building. Keywords: smart material, conventional material, cost

PENGEMBANGAN BAHAN AJAR DENGAN KONTEKS ALAT BERBURU TRADISIONAL DAYAK TABUN DALAM MATERI BANGUN RUANG

This study aims to determine "How is the development of teaching materials with the context of traditional Dayak tabun hunting tools in the flat-sided building material for class VIII students of SMP Negeri 01 Ketungau Tengah". With sub-problems or problems, especially in this study, how is the level of validity, practicality, and effectiveness of teaching materials in the context of traditional Dayak tabun hunting tools in the material for building flat-sided spaces in class? VIII students of SMP Negeri 01 Ketungau Tengah. The method used in this study is the Research & Development (R&D) research method concerning the 4-D model, namely Define, Design, Development, and Disseminate. The test subjects in this study were class VIII students of SMP Negeri 01 Ketungau Tengah, with 29 students. Based on the results of the limited trials conducted, it was found that 1) the results of the validation of teaching materials were 80.79% in the excellent category, 2) the results of practicality based on observations of the implementation of the teaching materials developed were 84.37% in the practical category, 3) the results of the effectiveness of the materials. Teaching is 68.96 % with effective category. So, it can be concluded that in the limited trial stage, mathematics teaching materials in the context of traditional Dayak tabun hunting tools have met the criteria of validity, practicality, and effectiveness