Centro de Território, Ambiente e Construção
Escola de Engenharia da Universidade do Minho
Campus de Azurém
4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Phone: + 351 253 510 200 (517 206)
Fax: + 351 253 510 217
Email: geral@ctac.uminho.pt
@JournalArticle {2164, title = {Ancient Materials and Techniques to Improve the Earthen Building Durability}, journal = {Key Engineering Materials}, volume = {Volume 634}, year = {2014}, month = {2014-12-11 00:00:00}, pages = {357-366}, edition = {Trans Tech Publications Ltd, Switzerland}, abstract = {A substantial part of the world building heritage has been performed by earthen building.\ The durability of this existing heritage and mainly of the new buildings built with earth is\ particularly conditioned by the erosion caused by water action, especially in countries with high\ levels of rainfall. This research aims to contribute to the increase of knowledge about the ancient\ building techniques that provide enhanced durability. It is possible to analyse the ancestral practices\ used to protect the earth material from the water action in order to understand how the old earthen\ buildings were preserved over the centuries, resisting to harsh weather conditions. Among these\ techniques are: the incorporation of biopolymers (such as oils or fats from animal or vegetable\ origin); the addition of some minerals; and the earth stabilization with lime. However, this\ knowledge seems to be forgotten, probably due to the prejudice related to earthen constructions,\ which several times are associated with a poor building. This research also focuses on the study of\ new methods of earth stabilization with lime and biopolymers, adapting the ancient knowledge to
}, keywords = {Ancient techniques, biopolymers, Durability, Water resistance}, issn = {1662-9795}, doi = {10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.634.357}, url = {http://www.scientific.net/KEM.634.357}, author = {Eires, R. and Cam{\~o}es, A. and Jalali, S.} }
improve the durability related to the water action. Therefore, alternative solutions can be obtained to\ improve the performance of earthen buildings, mainly the resistance of the material in the presence\ of water, reducing its permeability to water. In addition, with the proposed solutions it is possible to\ obtain good levels of water vapour permeability, one of the major advantages of the construction\ with earth.\
The Centre for Territory, Environment and Construction (CTAC) is a research unit of the School of Engineering of University of Minho (UMinho), recognised by the “FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia” (Foundation for Science and Technology), associated to the Department of Civil Engineering (DEC), with whom it shares resources and namely human resources.
Currently CTAC aggregates 25 researchers holding a PhD of which 20 are faculty professors of the Civil Engineering Department. Read more
Centro de Território, Ambiente e Construção
Escola de Engenharia da Universidade do Minho
Campus de Azurém
4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Phone: + 351 253 510 200 (517 206)
Fax: + 351 253 510 217
Email: geral@ctac.uminho.pt