Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A methodology for the mix design of earth bedding mortar

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Materials and Structures Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Earth masonry is a good alternative to more conventional materials in order to reduce the environmental impact of building materials. However earth construction techniques mostly rely on bricklayers’ experience, which is a hindrance to industrial development of this traditional know-how. This article proposes a methodology for the mix design of unstabilized earth bedding mortar based on mechanical criteria of the masonry and rheological criteria of fresh mortar. A test to characterize the shear strength of the masonry interface is specially investigated. The mechanical performances of the formulated mortar are then validated with laboratory scale characterization.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Morel JC, Mesbah A, Oggero M, Walker P (2001) Building houses with local materials: means to drastically reduce the environmental impact of construction. Build Environ 36:1119–1126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Danso H, Martinson B, Ali M, Mant C (2015) Performance characteristics of enhanced soil blocks: a quantitative review. Build Res Inf 43(2):253–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Laborel-Preneron A, Aubert JE, Magniont C, Tribout C, Bertron A (2016) Plant aggregates and fibers in earth construction materials: a review. Constr Build Mater 111:719–734

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Parracha JL, Lima J, Freire MT, Ferreira M, Faria P (2019) Vernacular earthen buildings from Leiria, Portugal–material characterization. Int J Archit Herit. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2019.1668986

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Aubert JE, Marcom A, Oliva P, Segui P (2015) Chequered earth construction in south-western France. J Cult Herit 16:293–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Heath A, Walker P, Fourie C, Lawrence M (2009) Compressive strength of extruded unfired clay masonry units. Construct Mater 162:105–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Maskell D, Heath A, Walker P (2013) Laboratory scale testing of extruded earth masonry units. Mater Des 45:359–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Miccoli L, Garofano A, Fontana P, Müller U (2015) Experimental testing and finite element modelling of earth block masonry. Eng Struct 104:80–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Cagnon H, Aubert JE, Coutand M, Magniont C (2014) Hygrothermal properties of earth bricks. Energy Build 80:208–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Miccoli L, Müller U, Fontana P (2014) Mechanical behaviour of earthen materials: a comparison between earth block masonry, rammed earth and cob. Constr Build Mater 61:327–339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Perrot A, Rangeard D, Menasria F, Guihéneuf S (2018) Strategies for optimizing the mechanical strengths of raw earth-based mortars. Constr Build Mater 167:496–504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Meimaroglou N, Mouzakis C (2019) Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), texture, consistency and organic matter in soil assessment for earth construction: the case of earth mortars. Constr Build Mater 221:27–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Lourenco PB, Milani G, Tralli A, Zucchini A (2007) Analysis of masonry structures: review of and recent trends in homogenization techniques. Can J Civ Eng 34(11):1443–1457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Illampas R, Ioannou I, Charmpis DC (2013) Overview of the pathology, repair and strengthening of adobe structures. Int J Archit Herit 7(2):165–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Hamard E, Morel JC, Salgado F, Marcom A, Meunier N (2013) A procedure to assess the suitability of plaster to protect vernacular earthen architecture. J Cult Herit 14(2):109–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Gelard D (2005) Identification et caractérisation de la cohésion interne du matériau terre dans ses conditions naturelles de conservation. Doctoral dissertation, Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble-INPG

  17. German standard E DIN 18945 (2012) Lehmsteine – Begriff e, Anforderungen, Prüfverfahren. NABau im DIN, Berlin

  18. German standard E DIN 18946 (2012) Lehmmauermörtel – Begriff e, Anforderungen, Prüfverfahren. NABau im DIN, Berlin

  19. Walker P (2002) Standards Australia: the Australian earth building handbook. Standards Australia International, Sydney

    Google Scholar 

  20. Maillard P, Aubert JE (2014) Effects of the anisotropy of extruded earth bricks on their hygrothermal properties. Constr Build Mater 63:56–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Aubert JE, Maillard P, Morel JC, Al Rafii M (2016) Towards a simple compressive strength test for earth bricks? Mater Struct 49(5):1641–1654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. NF EN 772-1+A1 Décembre 2015. Méthodes d’essai des éléments de maçonnerie - Partie1: détermination de la résistance à la compression

  23. Aubert JE, Fabbri A, Morel JC, Maillard P (2013) An earth block with a compressive strength higher than 45 MPa! Constr Build Mater 47:366–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. NF P94-051 Mars 1993. Sols: reconnaissance et essais - Détermination des limites d’Atterberg - Limite de liquidité à la coupelle - Limite de plasticité au rouleau

  25. NF P94-068 Octobre 1998. Sols: reconnaissance et essais - Mesure de la capacité d’adsorption de bleu de méthylène d’un sol ou d’un matériau rocheux - Détermination de la valeur de bleu de méthylène d’un sol ou d’un matériau rocheux par l’essai à la tache

  26. NF EN ISO 17892-4 Janvier 2018. Reconnaissance et essais géotechniques - Essais de laboratoire sur les sols - Partie 4: Détermination de la distribution granulométrie des particules

  27. Heath A, Walker P, Fourie C, Lawrence M (2009) Compressive strength of extruded unfired clay masonry units. Proc Inst Civil Eng Constr Mater 162:105–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. French guidelines «Règles professionnelles pour la mise en œuvre des enduits sur supports composés de terre cru» Edition SEBTP. ISBN 978-2-35917-051-1, 2012

  29. Australian Standard 2701 1984 (1984) Standards Australia. Methods of sampling and testing mortar for masonry construction. Sydney

  30. Schwartzentruber A, Catherine C (2000) La méthode du mortier de béton équivalent (MBE)—Un nouvel outil d’aide à la formulation des bétons adjuvantés. Mater Struct 33(8):475–482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. NF EN 1015-3/A2 Mai 2007. Méthodes d’essai des mortiers pour maçonnerie—Partie 3: détermination de la consistance du mortier frais (avec une table à secousses)

  32. NF P18-452 Février 2017. Bétons—Mesure du temps d’écoulement des bétons et des mortiers au maniabilimètre

  33. NF EN 196-1 Septembre 2016. Méthodes d’essais des ciments—Partie 1: détermination des résistances—Méthodes d’essais des ciments—Partie 1: Détermination des résistances

  34. NF EN 1015-11/A1 Mai 2007. Méthodes d’essai des mortiers pour maçonnerie—Partie 11: détermination de la résistance en flexion et en compression du mortier durci

  35. Varum H, Costa A, Silveira D, Pereira H, Almeida J, Martins T (2007) Structural behaviour assessment and material characterization of traditional adobe constructions. Proc Adobe USA 2007:18–20

    Google Scholar 

  36. Miccoli L, Fontana P (2012) Mechanical characterization and modelling of earth block masonry. Masonry 16(6):279–292

    Google Scholar 

  37. NF EN 1052-3/A1 Juillet 2007. Méthodes d’essai de la maçonnerie - Partie 3: détermination de la résistance initiale au cisaillement

  38. Walker P, Stace T (1997) Properties of some cement stabilised compressed earth blocks and mortars. Mater Struct 30(9):545–551

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Pkla A, Mesbah A, Rigassi V, Morel JC (2003) Comparaison de méthodes d’essais de mesures des caractéristiques mécaniques des mortiers de terre. Mater Struct 36(2):108–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Laou L (2017) Evaluation du comportement mécanique sous sollicitations thermohydriques d’un mur multimatériaux (bois, terre crue, liants minéraux) lors de sa construction et de son utilisation. Doctoral Dissertation, Egletons, CG2D

  41. Aiello MA, Ascione L, Baratta A, Bastianini F, Battista U, Benedetti A, Casadei P (2014) Guide for the design and construction of externally bonded FRP systems for strengthening existing structures. CNR-DT 200 R1/2013: 1-154

  42. Olivier M (1994) Le matériau terre, compactage, comportement, application aux structures en bloc sur terre. Doctoral dissertation, Lyon, INSA

  43. Samali B, Dowling DM, Li J (2008) Static and dynamic testing of adobe-mudbrick structures. Aust J Struct Eng 8(2):159–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Varum H, Costa A, Fonseca J, Furtado A (2015) Behaviour characterization and rehabilitation of adobe construction. Procedia Eng 114:714–721

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Fontana P, Miccoli L, Grünberg U (2018) Experimental investigations on the initial shear strength of masonry with earth mortars. Int J Mason Res Innov 3(1):34–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank C. Soula, and L. Delbreil from the LMDC (Toulouse) for their technical support in the experimental campaign. They also thank A. Marcom for his valuable advice and his experience as a bricklayer.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. LMDC, Université de Toulouse, INSA/UPS Génie Civil, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077, Toulouse Cedex 04, France

    Maïa Duriez, Rim Trad & Jean-Emmanuel Aubert

  2. Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, 3SR, 38000, Grenoble, France

    Florent Vieux-Champagne

  3. Centre Technique de Matériaux Naturels de Construction (CTMNC), Service Céramique R&D, Ester Technopole, 87069, Limoges Cedex, France

    Pascal Maillard

Authors
  1. Maïa Duriez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Florent Vieux-Champagne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rim Trad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Pascal Maillard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jean-Emmanuel Aubert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maïa Duriez.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Duriez, M., Vieux-Champagne, F., Trad, R. et al. A methodology for the mix design of earth bedding mortar. Mater Struct 53, 16 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-020-1443-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-020-1443-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation