Modern Earth Buildings

Dr Matthew R. Hall is a Lecturer in civil engineering materials at the University of Nottingham, UK. He is an award winning researcher, noted for his work in the fields of thermo-physical properties and heat and mass transport in porous materials. Rick Lindsay is the Managing Director of Earth Structures Pty Ltd, Australia. Meror Krayenhoff is the founder of SIREWALL Inc, Canada.

• Contributor contact detailsWoodhead Publishing Series in EnergyPrefacePart I: Introduction to modern earth buildingsChapter 1: Overview of modern earth buildingAbstract:1.1 Introduction1.2 Definition of modern earth building1.3 The significance of modern earth building in the current and future construction industries1.4 Changes in the modern earth building industry1.5 Managing the demands of the modern construction industryChapter 2: Hygrothermal behaviour and occupant comfort in modern earth buildingsAbstract:2.1 Introduction2.2 Hygrothermal loads and modelling2.3 Thermal and hygric properties of earth materials2.4 Hygrothermal behaviour and passive air conditioning2.5 Indoor health and air quality2.6 Sources of further information2.8 Appendix: nomenclatureChapter 3: Fabric insulation, thermal bridging and acoustics in modern earth buildingsAbstract:3.1 Introduction3.2 Approaches to fabric insulation3.3 Thermal bridging theory3.4 Thermal bridging simulation tools3.5 Acoustic reverberation3.6 Sources of further information3.8 Appendix: nomenclatureChapter 4: Modern earth building codes, standards and normative developmentAbstract:4.1 Introduction: a short history of building codes for using earth as a building material4.2 Types of ‘standards’ for earth buildings4.3 Normative documents for earth building4.4 Selecting the parameters for earth building standards4.5 New developments in earth building standards4.6 ConclusionsChapter 5: Passive house design: a benchmark for thermal mass fabric integrationAbstract:5.1 Introduction5.2 Description of Passive House5.3 Functional principles of Passive House5.4 Case studies of Passive Houses in different climates5.5 Examples of Passive House architecture in Germany5.6 Future trends5.7 Sources of further informationPart II: Earth materials engineering and earth constructionChapter 6: Soil materials for earth construction: properties, classification and suitability testingAbstract:6.1 Introduction6.2 Soil formation6.3 Soil types6.4 Soil consistency6.5 Compaction of soil6.6 Conclusion6.8 AppendixChapter 7: Alternative and recycled materials for earth constructionAbstract7.1 Introduction7.2 Classification7.3 Types of alternative material7.4 Characteristics of alternative and recycled materials7.5 Form of recycled and alternative materials: bulk or binder7.6 Leaching7.7 Physical and mechanical properties of alternative and recycled materials7.8 The use and reuse life cycle7.9 Future trends and conclusions7.10 Sources of further information7.12 AppendixChapter 8: Soil mechanics and earthen construction: strength and mechanical behaviourAbstract:8.1 Introduction8.2 Basic mechanics8.3 Fundamental soil behaviour8.4 Effective stress8.5 Models of shear strength for soils8.6 Unsaturated soil behaviour8.7 The use of soil mechanics in earthen construction8.8 Future trends8.9 Sources of further informationChapter 9: Soil stabilisation and earth construction: materials, properties and techniquesAbstract:9.1 Introduction9.2 Lime stabilisation9.3 Cement and pozzolans9.4 Bituminous binders and emulsions9.5 Synthetic binders, polymers and adhesives9.6 Fibre reinforcement9.7 Selection tool for modern stabilised earth constructionChapter 10: Integral admixtures and surface treatments for modern earth buildingsAbstract:10.1 Introduction10.2 Integral admixtures for modern earth construction10.3 Surface treatment for modern earth buildings10.4 Future trends10.5 Sources of informationChapter 11: Weathering and durability of earthen material and structuresAbstract:11.1 Introduction11.2 Water content increase in earthen walls11.3 Strategies to increase the durability of earth walls11.4 Current tests for assessing the durability of earthen materials11.5 Surface coatings and finishes of earth structures11.6 Long-term performance testing of earth walls11.7 Future trends and conclusions11.8 AcknowledgementsPart III: Earth building technologies and earth construction techniquesChapter 12: History of earth building techniquesAbstract:12.1 Introduction12.2 Earth building techniques in Asia12.3 Earth building techniques in Africa12.4 Earth building techniques in Europe12.5 Earth building techniques in North America12.6 Earth building techniques in South America12.7 Earth building techniques in Australasia12.8 ConclusionsChapter 13: Stabilised soil blocks for structural masonry in earth constructionAbstract:13.1 Introduction13.2 Soil stabilisation techniques13.3 Production of stabilised soil blocks (SSBs)13.4 Characteristics of stabilised soil blocks (SSBs)13.5 Cement–soil mortars for stabilised soil block masonry13.6 Stabilised soil block masonry13.7 Long-term performance, repair and retrofitting of stabilised soil block buildings13.8 Case studies of cement-stabilised soil block (CSSB) buildingsChapter 14: Modern rammed earth construction techniquesAbstract:14.1 Introduction14.2 Material sourcing14.3 Proportioning and mixing14.4 Formwork14.5 Installation14.6 Future trends and conclusionsChapter 15: Pneumatically impacted stabilized earth (PISE) construction techniquesAbstract:15.1 Introduction15.2 Materials used for pneumatically impacted stabilized earth (PISE) construction15.3 The forming system15.4 Reinforcement of pneumatically impacted stabilized earth (PISE) walls15.5 Equipment for proportioning, mixing and placement15.6 The pneumatically impacted stabilized earth (PISE) method15.7 Conclusion15.8 AppendixChapter 16: Conservation of historic earth buildingsAbstract:16.1 Introduction16.2 Common causes of deterioration on historic earth buildings16.3 Conservation of earth architecture16.4 Case study of the UNESCO heritage site of Diriyah in the Atturaif region of Saudi Arabia16.5 Case study of earth buildings in Italy: Loreto Aprutino in the Abruzzo region16.6 ConclusionsPart IV: Modern earth structural engineeringChapter 17: Earth masonry structures: arches, vaults and domesAbstract:17.1 Introduction17.2 Structural theory for arches, vaults and domes17.3 Earth masonry arches17.4 Earth masonry vaults17.5 Earth masonry domes17.6 Material properties of earth masonry structure17.7 Design and construction criteria for earth masonry structures17.8 Future trends17.9 AcknowledgmentsChapter 18: Structural steel elements within stabilised rammed earth wallingAbstract:18.1 Introduction18.2 Structural steel for stabilised rammed earth (SRE) walling18.3 Design parameters for using structural steel within stabilised rammed earth (SRE) walling18.4 The use of steel lintels for stabilised rammed earth (SRE) applications18.5 Steel columns embedded within stabilised rammed earth (SRE) walls18.6 Structural systems for elevated or ‘precast’ stabilised rammed earth (SRE) panels18.7 North American structural steel18.8 Conclusion18.9 Acknowledgements18.10 Sources of further informationChapter 19: Natural disasters and earth buildings: resistant design and constructionAbstract:19.1 Introduction19.2 Earthquakes and earth buildings19.3 Earthquake engineering19.4 Wind and storms19.5 Earth building design for wind resistance19.6 Flood hazards and earth buildings19.7 Volcanoes and landslides19.8 Future trendsChapter 20: Embankments and damsAbstract:20.1 Introduction20.2 Types and selection of embankment dams20.3 Zoning of embankment dams and construction materials20.4 Embankment dam construction specifications20.5 Stability analysis of embankment dams20.6 Dam freeboard requirement20.7 Failure mechanisms20.8 Maintenance of embankment dams20.9 Future trends20.10 Norms and standardsPart V: Application of modern earth construction: international case studiesChapter 21: North American modern earth constructionAbstract:21.1 Introduction21.2 Seventh generation thinking and earth construction21.3 The interplay of indoor and outdoor weather21.4 Applications of earth construction in hot climates21.5 Applications of earth construction in wet and cold climates21.6 Optimizing rammed earth compressive strength21.7 North American-style rammed earth21.8 Case studies of North American earth construction21.9 Design elegance of modern earth buildings21.10 Future trends21.11 Sources of further information21.12 AcknowledgmentsChapter 22: Australian modern earth constructionAbstract:22.1 Introduction22.2 Uses of stabilised rammed earth in different regions of Australia22.3 Approaches to material type and selection22.4 Formwork and construction techniques: the ‘Stabilform system’22.5 Stabilised rammed earth (SRE) walls22.6 Designing for thermal comfort22.7 Standards and specifications for modern earth construction in Australia22.8 The cost of stabilised rammed earth (SRE) construction in Australia22.9 Case studies of modern earth buildings in Victoria, Australia22.10 Future trends22.11 Sources of further information22.12 AcknowledgementsChapter 23: European modern earth constructionAbstract:23.1 Introduction23.2 Conservation and revival of traditional techniques23.3 Modern earth construction techniques23.4 Case studies of modern earth buildings throughout Europe23.5 Future trends23.6 AcknowledgementsChapter 24: Modern rammed earth construction in ChinaAbstract:24.1 Introduction24.2 Challenges for modern rammed earth construction in China24.3 Opportunities for modern rammed earth construction in China24.4 Approaches to material type and selection24.5 Construction techniques and formwork24.6 Case studies24.7 Future trendsAppendicesAppendix 1: Techno-economic analysis and environmental assessment of stabilised rammed earth (SRE) building constructionAppendix 2: Techno-economic analysis and environmental assessment of stabilized insulated rammed earth (SIREWALL) buildingIndex

"Long overdue as a resource and instantly useable by knowledge professionals." --Keith Robinson, Dialog Architecture