Publication

Abstract : Earthen building construction is an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable approach. Even though rammed-earth construction is popular in a few countries, it is not widely practiced in many countries, including India. The broader aim of the study was to overcome skepticism toward this ecological construction method and increase the confidence level in the society for practicing the same. The quantities of cement and water needed for stabilization of locally available soil were optimized, and durability was evaluated through weathering tests and dryingshrinkage tests. The strength and elastic properties of the stabilized rammed earth were also assessed. This paper presents a preliminary investigation of finite-element modeling (FEM) of the compression behavior of a rammed-earth prism and its experimental validation. © 2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.