البناء باستخدام تقنية التربة المدكوكة
Index:
introduction:
In the Great Wall of China, or in the Alhambra Palace in Spain, thousands of years ago or today, buildings appear in harmony with their surroundings, like a tree growing from the ground in perfect harmony with nature. These are walls the color of the earth and the scent of the earth. These are walls built with rammed earth. Solid and healthy, simple, yet breathing as if those who live within them, from the earth and into it. The technique of rammed or compressed earth is natural, sustainable, and environmentally friendly, and adds great beauty to buildings.
Main ideas:
1. History of technology use:
Soil is one of the oldest building materials in use, dating back thousands of years. The technique of rammed earth has existed in ancient times in various parts of the world, with the earliest recorded construction using this technique occurring in the Assyrian Empire, 5,000 years BC.
2. How to build with compacted soil:
According to the common traditional method, walls are built using compacted soil through four basic stages:
1) First stage: soil preparation
Soil is often extracted from the construction site and then prepared into a cohesive paste by mixing it with water. It's important to note that the clay content in the soil determines the consistency of the paste; the lower the clay content, the greater the risk of cracking. The sand content, on the other hand, determines its hardness.
As for stabilization, clay alone can act as a stabilizer, but the best method is to add lime as a stabilizer. Other chemical stabilizers can also be added to clay and lime, and sometimes cement can be added to play this role.
2) The second stage: Pouring the soil into the molds and compacting it:
Wooden sheets are usually placed on both sides of the wall to pour the dough into in layers approximately 15 centimeters thick. The thickness of the layers can be increased to 20 centimeters by connecting the two sides of the mold with metal rods, which increases the rigidity of the mold. Pre-made molds can also be used.
A compaction process is also carried out after pouring each layer, using hand tools or a pneumatic compactor. This step is important to ensure cohesion between the different layers, eliminate air within the dough, and prevent cracking and strengthen the walls.
3) The third stage: removing the molds:
Removing the molding is often an easy process and can be started as soon as the wall is finished.
It should be noted that several new methods of building with compacted earth have emerged to save time and effort and produce more complex components, but the principle remains the same.
After construction is completed, the walls must be protected from water, as soil is not water-resistant. In some cases, thermal insulation may be required, especially if the walls are not thick enough, and in some very cold or very hot climates.
3. The ecological and sustainable aspect of technology:
This technology is characterized by being natural and environmentally friendly, as evidenced by several characteristics, including:
1) Contributing to the balance of humidity levels in the air:
Soil is at the forefront of moisture absorption and release, both in terms of speed and quantity, and in terms of its ability to release moisture back into the air. This improves the air quality inside homes and buildings, thereby contributing to the prevention of moisture-related diseases and the improvement of the physical and mental health of residents and visitors.
2) Heat storage:
Compacted soil elements are characterized by their weight and thermal mass, which enables them to store heat and insulate the building from temperature fluctuations outside.
3) Reducing energy consumption and pollution:
Compacted earth technology doesn't consume much energy, especially when used in traditional construction. Not to mention, it extracts building materials from the site itself. During excavation for foundations, we extract the base material, which is often suitable for construction. This eliminates the need to transport materials from another location, thus saving energy and reducing pollution. Furthermore, compacted earth doesn't require a cooking process, unlike cement, which produces carbon dioxide emissions.
4) Recyclability and reusability:
Elements built with rammed earth are fully recyclable and reusable multiple times. Furthermore, they have a long lifespan, along with many other materials. All of these factors make them environmentally friendly and reduce the possibility of environmental pollution. Even when the building is disposed of, the soil is returned to its original state, back to the ground.
5) Reducing construction costs:
This technique is simple and easy, but it requires expertise and supervision from experienced and specialized professionals. However, it relies on simple methods, making it inexpensive and accessible to the general public, who can build their own homes under supervision.
6) Preserving some other natural building materials:
Compacted soil preserves wood and other organic materials due to its low moisture content and high capillary permeability, keeping woody elements in contact with it dry, thus reducing the risk of fungal or insect damage.
4. Examples of buildings constructed using compacted soil:
1) Alhambra Palace:
The Alhambra Palace is one of the most prominent Islamic monuments in Spain, a testament to the history of Muslims in Andalusia. Compacted earth was used in the construction of this magnificent, magnificent, and solid edifice.
2) Tulu houses in China:
Located in the UNESCO-listed Fujian Tulou site, these are circular houses dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, built using the locally popular rammed earth technique.
3) Kasbah of the Draa Valley in Morocco:
It includes approximately 300 small villages with houses and towns, all built using various earth-based techniques, a large proportion of which are built using rammed earth. It dates back to the 15th century.
Despite the advantages of this technology, its use is gradually declining due to the shortage of skilled workers in compacted soil technology, as well as the general trend towards modern and faster methods.