Walling techniques, building materials and construction techniques
- 1. WALLING TECHNIQUES SUBMITTED BY: KRISHNA GOYAL AHTESHAM UMAIR KHAN SANDESH VISHWAKARMA MOHAMMED KAFIL NON-CONVENTIONAL SUBMITTED TO: AR.NEETA MISHRA MAAM 01
- 2. Table of Contents • Non-Conventional Walls • Cobb Wall • Rammed Earth Wall • Adobe Wall • Wattle & Daub Wall 02
- 3. What are Non-Conventional Walls? Walls made with the Biobased Materials, Renewable Materials, Non-polluting Materials, Sustainability, Wood, Agricultural Waste, Grasses, Natural Plant Fibres, Lignocellulosic Materials, Carbohydrates ,Sugars, Lignin, Cellulose, Vegetable Oils, Proteins, Bamboo, Vegetable Fibres, Soil Composites, Recycled Materials, Rice Husk Ash, Sugar Cane Ash, Fibre-reinforced Concrete, Post- disaster Reconstruction, Guadua Fibres, Prefabricated Bamboo Guadua Panels, Multi-Level Bamboo Structures, Alkaline Activated Cements, Polymer Residues Reinforced with Glass Fibre, Composites Reinforced with Vegetable Fibres, Sisal Fibres, Bamboo Arch Structure, Adobe Reinforced with Wheat Fibres, Fibre Reinforced Micro concrete, Cements with High Coal Waste Contents, Natural Composites, Geopolymer Concretes. 03
- 4. Cobb Wall • With only a little water to form a very stiff mud, a large lump is roughly moulded into the shape of a huge elongated egg. • The usual size is anything between 12 to 18-inches, (30 to 40-cm) long and about 6-inches (15-cm) in diameter. • A row of these cobs of mud are laid neatly side-by-side – preferably somewhat pressed together. • Then another row of cobs is laid on top. • When three or four courses have been laid, one above the other, the sides are smoothed over so that the holes and cracks disappear. • Openings for doors, and windows are a problem, which can be solved by using temporary vertical planks or shuttering. • Another very simple shuttering for openings is to use empty kerosene tins. 04
- 5. Cobb Wall : Case Study Location: Auroville, Tamil Nadu Project: The Auroville Earth Institute Year: Established in 1989 Objective: To promote sustainable building practices and provide affordable housing Key Features: 1. Local materials: Cob, a mixture of clay, sand, and straw, is used for construction. 2. Energy efficiency: Thick walls provide natural insulation. 3. Rainwater harvesting: Rooftop collection systems store rainwater. 4. Waste management: Composting toilets and recycling. 5. Community involvement: Local labor and training. Benefits: 1. Affordable: Cob construction reduces costs. 2. Sustainable: Local materials, minimal waste. 3. Climate resilience: Natural insulation, cooling. 4. Health benefits: Non-toxic materials. Challenges: 1. Scalability: Limited availability of skilled labor. 2. Maintenance: Requires regular upkeep. 3. Social acceptance: Unfamiliarity with cob construction. Conclusion: Cob houses in Tamil Nadu demonstrate the potential for sustainable, affordable housing. The Auroville Earth Institute's efforts showcase the benefits of local materials, energy efficiency, and community involvement. Addressing scalability and social acceptance challenges can further promote the adoption of cob construction. 05
- 6. Rammed Earth Wall • The second method has developed from the cob wall so as to standardize or regularize the thickness of the wall. • It is also an attempt to increase the strength of the wall by ramming it. It is known as the Rammed Earth method. • Two parallel planks are held firmly apart by metal rods and clips or bolts, or by small crosspieces of wood. • Stiff mud is thrown in between these two planks and rammed down with either a wooden or metal ramrod. • When one section is completed and hard, the two boards are moved along and the process is repeated • The two planks are then raised up and a second course of rammed earth is repeated over the first. 06
- 7. Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat Project: The Gandhi Ashram Trust's Rammed Earth House Year: 2013 (construction began) Objective: To promote sustainable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective housing Key Features: 1. Local materials: Rammed earth construction using local soil. 2. Energy efficiency: Thick walls provide natural insulation (reducing temperature by 5-7°C). 3. Rainwater harvesting: Rooftop collection systems store rainwater. 4. Passive design: Orientation, ventilation, and shading. 5. Community involvement: Local labor and training. Benefits: 1. Affordable: Reduced construction costs (30% less than conventional). 2. Sustainable: Local materials, minimal waste, carbon sequestration. 3. Climate resilience: Natural insulation, cooling. 4. Health benefits: Non-toxic materials. 5. Aesthetic appeal: Unique texture, natural beauty. Challenges: 1. Moisture control: Requires careful construction and maintenance. 2. Load-bearing capacity: Requires reinforcement. 3. Social acceptance: Unfamiliarity with rammed earth construction. Innovative Solutions: 1. Stabilized rammed earth: Added lime and cement for durability. 2. Reinforcement: Used steel rods for added strength. 3. Moisture management: Incorporated drainage systems. Rammed Earth Wall: Case Study 07
- 8. Adobe Wall • Blocks shall be kept covered with air tight polythene sheets for first 48 hrs with relative humidity up to 100. • Polythene sheets shall be removed after 48 hrs and the blocks shall be kept in shaded area like having enough air circulation. • Sprinkle water over blocks daily, as many times needed, during 28 days. • Write date of production on block corner. • Cover stacks top with coconut leaves or any other cover to avoid direct sunlight. • Principle is that blocks shall not dry for 4weeks. 08
- 9. Adobe Wall: Case Study Location: Bam, Kerman Province, Iran Project: Bam Citadel (Arg-e Bam) Date: 5th century BC (original construction), 7th century AD (Islamic period expansions) Objective: To showcase ancient adobe construction techniques and their significance Key Features: 1. Adobe construction: Made from earth, water, and straw 2. Mud-brick walls: 6-7 meters high, 2-3 meters thick 3. Watchtowers and fortifications 4. Mosque, palace, and residential areas 5. Water management system: Canals, wells, and reservoirs Benefits: 1. Sustainability: Local materials, minimal environmental impact 2. Climate resilience: Adobe provides natural insulation 3. Aesthetic appeal: Unique texture, historic significance 4. Community significance: Cultural and spiritual hub Challenges: 1. Seismic vulnerability: Damaged by 2003 earthquake 2. Weathering and erosion: Rainfall, wind, and temperature fluctuations 3. Maintenance and restoration: Ongoing conservation efforts Technical Specifications: 1. Adobe block size: 20-30 cm x 10-15 cm x 5-7 cm 2. Wall thickness: 2-3 meters 3. Mud-brick composition: 80% earth, 10% straw, 10% water 09
- 10. Wattle & Daub Wall • Wattle and daub method is an old and common method of building mud structures. • There bamboo and cane frame structure that supports the roof. • Mud is plastered over this mesh of bamboo cane and straws. • Due to excessive rainfall the Wattle and Daub structures gets washed off. • However, the mesh of cane or split bamboo remains intact and after the heavy rain is over the mud is plastered on again. 10
- 11. Location: Rural village in Tamil Nadu, India Project: Construction of a community center Method: Wattle and Daub walling Description: The Wattle and Daub method was chosen for its sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and thermal insulation properties. Materials: - Bamboo strips (wattle) - Mud mixture (daub) made from local soil, sand, and cow dung - Natural fibers (coconut coir, rice husk) Construction Process: 1. Preparation: Site clearance, foundation laying. 2. Wattle framework: Bamboo strips woven to create a lattice structure. 3. Daub application: Mud mixture applied in layers, allowing each layer to dry. 4. Finishing: Natural fibers added for reinforcement, and a final coat of mud applied. Benefits: 1. Low carbon footprint 2. Thermal insulation (reduced temperature fluctuations) 3. Cost-effective (locally sourced materials) & Aesthetically pleasing, natural finish Challenges: 1. Weather conditions (rain, extreme temperatures) 2. Skilled labor requirements 3. Maintenance (regular reapplication of mud layers) Conclusion: Wattle and Daub walling offers a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to conventional construction methods in India. With Wattle & Daub Wall: Case Study 11
- 12. Thank You! 12