Construction of a prefabricated vault prototype with raw earth and wood as a roof for buildings

Abstract

Constructions with raw earth are of great importance in various parts of the world due to their numerous advantages and benefits. The material used in the construction is considered ancestral and traditional and is made primarily of raw earth, water, and organic fibers. There are multiple construction techniques, and some are combined with other materials such as wood, bamboo, etc. Based on the bahareque technique that combines multiple materials, the objective of this research was to propose a prefabricated prototype of a vault as a roof for buildings. Being an experimental model, the study was divided into three stages: first, the optimal soil and possible natural and chemical additions that could be part of the material to cover the structural element were selected, second, the shape and construction system were studied, and third The prototype was built and mechanical tests were carried out. As a result, a 1:5 scale prototype was obtained, 0.65 m long, 30 cm wide and 0.14 m high, with a shape approximation to the Catalan vaults, combining wood, natural ropes, raw earth coating, and tensioners, supporting considerable loads in mechanical tests. This experimentation makes us think about the innovation of construction systems with raw earth, this being an alternative for new buildings to be built.