JOMO-KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND

TECHNOLOGY

COURSE: M.sc CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING &

MANAGEMENT

COURSE UNIT: SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

COURSE CODE: ECE 3182.

LABORATORY REPORT-COMPARISON OF RAMMED EARTH,

STABILIZED SOIL BLOCKS AND QUARRY STONE WALLS.

PRESENTED BY:ETALE TUNYA

REG. NO: 0969/2009.

PRESENTED TO:PROF: OYAWA.

SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2009.
1.0 OBJECTIVES OF THE EXPERIMENT

The objective of the experiments is to compare the compressive

strengths of:-

• Stabilized earth wall.

• Rammed earth wall.
• Mansory wall - Ndarugu blocks

2.0 COMPRESSED STABILISED EARTH BLOCKS

The first attempts for compressed earth blocks were tried in the
early days of the 19th century in Europe. The architect François
Cointeraux precast small blocks of rammed earth and he used hand
rammers to compress the humid soil into a small wooden mould
held with the feet.

The Stabilized Compressed Earth Block (SCEB) Technology offers a

cost effective, environmentally sound masonry system. The
product, a stabilized Compressed Earth Block has a wide
application in construction for walling, roofing, arched
openings, corbels etc. Stabilized Earth Blocks are manufactured
by compacting raw material earth mixed with a stabilizer such as
cement or lime under a pressure of 20 - 40 kg/cm2 using manual
soil press such as Balram, Makiga made soil press etc.

A number of manual and hydraulic machines are available in

India. The basic principal of all the machines is the compaction
of raw earth to attain dense, even sized masonry. Some of the
hydraulic machines can even manufacture interlocking blocks.
These interlocking blocks are highly suitable for speedy and
mortar less construction. Stabilized Compressed Earth Block
(SCEB) Technology helps in offsetting the use of fuel wood that
is getting expensive every day. On the other hand, compressed
earth blocks are sun dried and use cement as stabilization for
gaining the required strength.

The soil, raw or stabilized, for a compressed earth block is

slightly moistened, poured into a steel press (with or without
stabilizer) and then compressed either with a manual or
motorized press. But most of the times, they are stabilized
with cement or lime. Therefore, we prefer today to call them
Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB).

The input of soil stabilization allowed people to build higher

with thinner walls, which have a much better compressive
strength and water resistance. With cement stabilization, the
blocks must be cured for four weeks after manufacturing. After
this, they can dry freely and be used like common bricks with a
soil cement stabilized mortar.

2.1 Materials, tools and procedure.

2.1.1 Materials
The material used in the in laboratory test are as follows
• 8 parts of soil (gravel).
• 7 parts of Nairobi quarry dust
• 4 parts of Ndarugu quarry dust
• 1 part of cement
• Water.

2.1.2 Tools and equipments.

• 2 trowels.
• 2 spades.
• 6mm sieve mesh.
• 1 wheelbarrow.
• 1 watering can.
• 1 factory broom.
• 2 buckets.
• 3mm brush.
• Lubricant.
• Manual block press.

2.1.3 Procedure.
• Sieve the soil using the 6mm sieve.
• Batch the soil and cement.
• Mix until cement and soil are mixed thoroughly.
• Sprinkle water on to the mix slowly while mixing.
• The moisture content should be about 10%.
• Scoop the mixture on to the block press and press.
• Eject the block gently from the machine and place in a
secure area.
• The process is repeated until the required number of blocks
are produced.
 • Cover the blocks, only uncovering once in the morning and
evening during watering.
• The blocks are cured for 7-14 days.

MANUAL BLOCK PRESS IN USE.

2.1.4 Test
Due to failure of the testing machine, the compressive strength
test could not be carried out.

3.0 RAMMED EARTH

Rammed earth is a technique used in the building of walls using

the raw materials of mud, chalk, lime and gravel. It is an
ancient building method that has seen a revival in recent years
as people seek more sustainable building materials and natural
building methods. Because of the nature of the materials used it
is incombustible, thermally insulating and very strong and
hardwearing. It also has the added advantage of being a simple
way to construct walls. Traditionally, rammed earth buildings
are common in arid regions where wood is in scarce supply.

Using it involves a process of compressing a damp mixture of

earth that has suitable proportions of sand, gravel and clay
(sometimes with an added stabilizer) into an externally
supported frame that moulds the shape of a wall section creating
a solid wall of earth. Traditional stabilizers such as lime or
animal blood were used to stabilize the material, but cement has
been the stabilizer of choice for modern times. However the use
of cement is contentious as its manufacture creates 10% of
manmade carbon emissions.

After compressing the earth the wall frames can be immediately

removed and require an extent of warm dry days after
construction to dry and harden. The structure can take up to two
years to completely cure, and the more it cures the stronger the
structure becomes. When the process is complete it is much like
constructing a handmade wall of solid rock.

Formwork is set up creating the desired shape of the section of

wall; damp material is poured in to a depth of between 100 to
250 mm. A pneumatically powered backfill tamper — something like
a hand-held pogo stick with a flat plate on the bottom or even a
manual tamper — is then used to compact the material to around
50% of its original height. Further layers of material are added
and the process is repeated until the wall has reached the
desired height. The wall is so solid that, if desired, the forms
can be removed immediately. This is necessary if wire brushing
to add texture is desired; otherwise walls become too hard to
brush after around 60 minutes. Walls take some time to dry out
completely, but this does not prevent further work on the
project. Any exposed walls may be sealed to prevent water damage
— there are several proprietary products specifically designed
to seal earth walls.

3.1 Materials, tools and procedure.

3.1.1 Materials
The material used in the in laboratory test are as follows
• 8 parts of soil (gravel)
• 7 parts of Nairobi quarry dust
• 4 parts of Ndarugu quarry dust
• 1 part of cement
• Water.

3.1.2 Tools
• 2 trowels.
• 2 spades.
• 6mm sieve mesh.
• 1 wheelbarrow.
• 1 watering can.
• 1 factory broom.
• 2 buckets.
• Formwork (steel plates).
• Iron tamper.

3.1.3 Procedure.

• Sieve the soil using the 6mm sieve.

• Batch the soil and cement.
• Mix until cement and soil are mixed thoroughly.
• Sprinkle water on to the mix slowly while mixing.
• The moisture content should be about 10%.
• Scoop the mixture into the already assembled formwork.
• Tamp manually till it is firm.
• The process is repeated in layers of about 100mm till the
desired height is achieved.
• The formwork is removed.

3.1.4 Test

Due to failure of the testing machine, the compressive strength

test could not be carried out.

4.0 MASONRY WALL.

A masonry wall is a wall made from materials which have
traditionally been cemented together with the use of mortar.
Masonry walls can be used as structural walls in buildings, and
they can also be utilized to create barriers between property
lines or different areas on a property. People have been working
with masonry in construction for thousands of years, as ample
examples of surviving masonry walls from all over the world
illustrate. Properly maintained, masonry can also last a very
long time; masonry walls from the medieval era, for example, are
still in use in parts of Europe, and the Great Wall of China is
a particularly notable example of a masonry wall.

Stone blocks used in masonry can be dressed or rough. Stone

masonry utilizing dressed stones is known as ashlar masonry,
whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as
rubble masonry. Both rubble and ashlar masonry can be laid in
courses (rows of even height) through the careful selection and
cutting of stones, but a great deal of stone masonry is
uncoursed.

Manufactured-stone, or cultured stone, veneers are popular

alternatives to natural stones. Attractive natural stone has
become more expensive in many areas and in some areas is
practically unavailable. Manufactured-stone veneers are
typically made from concrete. Natural stones from quarries
around the world are sampled and recreated using molds,
aggregate, and colorfast pigments. To the casual observer there
may be no visual difference between veneers of natural and
manufactured stone.

4.1 Materials, tools and procedure.

Since materials (quarry stones) could not be availed on time,

the experiment was not carried out.
5.0 REFERENCES:

Allen, Miles, Out of the Ground – Earthbuilding in New Zealand,

Dunmore press, Palmerston North, 1997, ISBN 0 86469 290 9.

Hodder, Gary, Earth Building Non Specific Design Guidelines,

Published by Gary Hodder Consulting Registered Engineer,
Nelson, 1991.

Howard, Ted, MUD AND MAN A History of Earth Buildings in

Australasia, Earthbuild Publications 1992, ISBN 0-646-06962-4.

Hydroform machine, training and building manual (2004).

Kennedy, Joseph F. "Building With Earthbags." Natural Building

Colloquium. NetWorks Productions. 14 Feb. 2007.
Khalili, Nader. "Nader Khalili." Cal-Earth. 19 Jan. 2007

Middleton, G.F., revised Schneider, L.M.,Bulletin 5 Earth-Wall

Construction, 4th Edition, National Building Technology Centre,
1987, ISBN 0-642-12289-X.

The Green Building Program. "Earth Construction." Sustainable

Building Sourcebook. 2006. 14 Feb. 2007

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rammed_earth

www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-masonry-wall.htm.