Influence of particle grading on the hygromechanical properties of hypercompacted earth
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(2020) 5:2
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Influence of particle grading on the hygromechanical properties of hypercompacted earth Alessia Cuccurullo1,2 · Domenico Gallipoli1 · Agostino Walter Bruno3 · Charles Augarde2 · Paul Hughes2 · Christian La Borderie1 Received: 21 December 2018 / Accepted: 9 November 2019 © The Author(s) 2019
Abstract Civil engineering research is increasingly focusing on the development of sustainable and energy-efficient building materials. Among these materials, raw (unfired) earth constitutes a promising option for reducing the environmental impact of buildings over their entire service life from construction to demolition. Raw earth has been used since old times but only recently has acquired prominence in mainstream building practice. This is mainly because of the development of novel methods to enhance the mechanical, hygroscopic and durability properties of compacted earth without increasing carbon and energy footprints. In this context, the present paper studies the dependency of the strength, stiffness, moisture capacity and water durability of compacted earth on particle grading. Results indicate that the particle size distribution is a key variable in defining the hygromechanical characteristics of compacted earth. The effect of the particle size distribution on the hygromechanical properties of compacted earth may be as important as that of dry density or stabilisation. This study suggests that a fine and well-graded earth mix exhibits higher levels of strength, stiffness, moisture capacity and water durability than a coarse and poorly-graded one. Keywords Raw earth material · Soil suitability · Hypercompaction · Durability
1 Introduction The construction sector accounts for 30% of the worldwide carbon emissions and consumes more raw materials than any other economic activity on the planet. It is therefore understandable that civil engineering research is currently focusing on the development of resource-effective construction materials that can reduce the environmental impact of buildings during construction, operation and demolition. Raw (unfired) earth is a particularly attractive construction material that can cut down energy consumption and carbon production over the entire lifetime of buildings, thus resulting in lower levels of embodied, operational and end-of-life energy * Alessia Cuccurullo alessia.cuccurullo@univ‑pau.fr 1
Laboratoire SIAME, Fédération IPRA, E2S, Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, Anglet, France
2
Department of Engineering, Durham University, Durham, UK
3
School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
[1]. Unstabilised raw earth consists in a mix of clay, silt and sand, usually locally sourced, which is blended with water and compacted without further transformation [2]. The amount of energy required for the transportation and manufacturing of raw earth is relatively low compared to conventional construction materials. Similarly, the use of raw earth as a construction material facilitates the disposal or recycling of
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