AR102 Building Materials and Construction 1

.
MODULE 1 LECTURE 1
INPUT BUILDING OUTPUT
The Building Ecosystem
building
materials
energy
water
consumer goods
solar radiation
wind
rainwater
used materials
wasted heat. CO
2
, CO, SO
2
gray water, sewer
waste, recyclable materials
warm air
polluted air
storm water
Source: Ecological Building
By T A Vijayasanan

Vernacular Architecture

It is a term used to categorise methods of construction which use locally
available resources and traditions to address local needs.

Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the
environmental, cultural and historical context in which it exists. It has
often been dismissed as crude and unrefined, but also has proponents
who highlight its importance in current design.

Laurie Baker - The use of local materials with consideration to local
climate and participation of the people leads to - A Holistic Design
Approach
PUCCA SEMI - PUCCA KACHCHA
A kachcha is a building made
of natural materials such a
mud, grass, bamboo, thatch
or sticks and is therefore a
short-lived structure. Since it
is not made for endurance it
requires constant
maintenance and
replacement.

A pukka is a structure made
from materials resistant to wear,
such as forms of stone or brick,
clay tiles , metal or other durable
materials, sometimes using
mortar to bind, that does not
need to be constantly
maintained or replaced.
However, such structures are
expensive to construct as the
materials are costly and more
labor is required. A pukka may
beelaborately decorated in
contrast to a kachcha.
A combination of the kachcha and
pukka style, the semipukka, has
evolved as villagers have acquired
the resourcesto add elements
constructed of the durable
materials characteristic of a pukka.
Architecture as always evolves
organically as the needs and
resources of people change.
Introduction

Vernacular and conventional building materials

Stone
Clay/ Mud
Palm leaves
Timber
Lime
Bamboo
Laterite etc


Advantages
Indigenous materials
Locally sourced
Climatically suited
Less energy intensive
Suitable to building techniques
Low cost of transport
Environment friendly and compatible to the surrounding environment


Ecological Building
What can be learnt from history?
In the past, human beings lived in harmony with their
environment
Comfort requirements were different
Small population meant ample space, modest requirements,
low energy needs and emissions
Waste products mostly recyclable & bio-degradable
Mobile communities
Low threat to the environment
Nomadic life & sparse requirements drove
the architecture of the past and made it
sustainable
Source: Ecological Building
By T A Vijayasanan

These castles in Europe use small fenestrations to minimize heat loss
Buildings in cold climates characterized by:
Small windows that allowed little light into spaces
resulting in minimal heat gains/loss and cooling/heating
loads
Building mass with high thermal storage capacities



IGLOO uses the ice blocks as
building material .

Preservation of the heat within.
Geoffery Bawa Srilankan Architecture
Usage of coconut timber as pillars
Courtyards
Shingle layed roofing
Principle of Tropical Modernism

Buildings in temperate zones
characterized by:
Tendency to locate living areas
underground to utilize coolness of the
earth and create ventilation through
buoyancy
Small window & roof elements minimizing
heat transfer
Use of narrow courtyards to promote
ventilation
Fine grained cities that cause mutual
shading
Use of water as an architectural element

Source: Ecological Building
By T A Vijayasanan

JODHPUR- view from Mehrangarh fort
Buildings located along the slope
Mutually shading each other.
Desert urban area
-With clusters of houses mutual shading each
other with courtyard spaces in between.

Local houses in Norway
Use of rubble masonry
Thatch roof huts
Use of Timber
Japanese Buddhist temples
-Architecture owing local religious
concerns
-Sloping roofs replicating the mountains
-Use of timber in the structure.
Modern Japanese buildings some times
use bamboo as main building material.
Helps in earth quake resilience.
Santorini - Greece
Wind swept , dry land, low humidity
Fear of pirates relocated them to steep hill slopes
Buildings mutual protect from sun
No vehicular transportation, transportation on mules
Terraces act as path ways
Rain water harvesting in cisterns .
African Beehive huts - Transformation
Built of wattle frame , filled
with mud brick or stone.
Plastered over with mix of cow
dung and clay.
Rectangular versions started
developing.
Fences around the
house
Mud Architecture
First attempt -19
th
cent , in
Europe
Regular blocks in shape and size ,
denser, stronger and more water
resistant than common adobe.
Moist soil is poured into steel
press and compressed with
manual or motorized press.
Auram 3000 18 different
moulds- 70 different types of
CSEB.
Stabilized with cement or lime

Cinnvaram 1950s
CSEB blocks
(Auroville
Earth
Institute)
MUD ARCHITECTURE Vernacular architecture
Rammed earth
Adobe
Wattle and daub
Cob
COB not good for height, large lumps laid in egg shape, 30 to 40 cm long and 15 cm
dia, laid sticking to each other , the sides are smoothed. For openings temporary
vertical planks

RAMMED EARTH to standardize the wall thickness, attempt to increase wall strength
by ramming. Stiff mud put between the planks and rammed down (held firmly by
metal rods and clips). When done it is moved up and further ramming done.

ADOBE Bricks should be covered with polythene sheets in RH upto 100 . Remove
after 48 hours and keep in shaded area. Sprinkle water over blocks , during 28 days.
Cover with coconut leaves. It should not dry for 4 weeks.


EARTH BAG Trench is dug , foundations are laid.
Rows of woven bags or tubes are filled with
inorganic material. Each successive layer is added
with barbed wire. Most used bag : woven
polypropelene.

WATTLE AND DAUB- Oldest method.
Bamboo and cane frame.
Mud is plastered over mesh of bamboo, cane and
straw.
LAURIE BAKER RESIDENCE- HAMLET
C D S - Trivandrum
LAYOLA CHAPEL, TVM
Use of local material
zero transport.
Filler slab 25 to 30%
less concrete. Less steel
required.
Arches eliminate
tensile stress.
Compressive stress
increase.
Domes- expand large
area
Rat trap bond
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IN INDIA
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IN HILLS - Himachal Pradesh
High plinths for the
cows to remain cool
and warm in
summer and winter.
GF Cow shed
FF - Storage, Granary
SF Kitchen , living , bed
3F- Balconies
Vent in the kitchen
to the attic to let
out smoke.

Kitchen wall
plastered with mud.
Mix of mainly
wood and stone
(chiseled and well
dressed)
SINGLE CUBOID VARIANTS
DOUBLE CUBOID VARIANTS
TRIPLE CUBOID VARIANTS
The buildings should be
planned along the contour
Slope for construction not greater than 30
deg
Heavy load not given on the filled up ground
Due to cold climate southern slopes or
orientation according to maximum
penetration of sun rays.
BEFORE
AFTER
What happens when gone against the
vernacular method of placing the buildings???
Buildings should be provided as scattered with
considerable set backs from each other
Sloping roofs at 45 deg to keep away
rain from the walls.

Use of timber for rafters , Ara (storage
spaces etc)

Courtyard spaces - Nalu kettu, Ettu
kettu , pathinaru kettu etc.

Based on Vasthu Shastra

Nalukettu has got:
Kizhakini for prayer pooja
Thekkini- for keeping wealth and
dwelling
Padinjhattini storage of crops and
grains
Vadakkini House structure existing
west east

Houses in North Kerala use Laterite
stone as building material and rest of
kerala uses timber , bricks etc





Main features are:
Padippura -
Poomukam - Place to receive guests
'Padinjattithara' (The western wing of
quadrangular type of house) - Place to
receive respected persons and serve
them meals.
'Deenamuri' (Sick Room)
-Room for for sick male members.
-'Vadukkini Vadukkini' (Thee northern northern part)t
Place to do rituals




Vernacular Architecture in Kerala
COMMON BUILDING MATERIALS
BUILDING MATERIALS

vernacular construction in Kerala are mud,
Laterite and granite stone blocks, lime
mortar, wood, bamboo, clay roofing tile
and coconut palm leaves.

Though granite stone is a strong and
Durable building material, due to its limited
availability mostly to the highlands, the use
of granite is limited to the foundation of
buildings.

Clay was used in many forms - for walling,
in filling the timber floors and making
bricks and tiles.

Palm leaves were used effectively for
Partitions and thatching the roofs
Sustainable Built environments
On-site natural resources

Natural energy on-site, such as solar
radiation, wind, air, rainwater and ambient
heat or cold has implications on the design
process

These natural resources can be harnessed for
optimal performance of the building

Incident solar radiation is the most abundant
energy source for buildings and provides heat
& light
Vernacular buildings reveal ingenious
architectural solutions for dealing with
the sun and other climatic conditions
Passive solar architecture offers design
schemes to harness solar energy using
building faades and structures

Prevailing wind conditions for cooling and
ventilation has tremendous implications on
architectural design

Rainwater harvesting can be beneficial in arid
regions and urban areas.


Well Articulated windows in
Hawa Mahal, Jaipur
provides cool breeze in a
desert area
These typical Kerala (India) houses use
rainwater harvesting methods and
pitched roof for shading
Source: Ecological Building
By T A Vijayasanan

Solar energy capture
for power supply
Sustainability through
Vernacular.
NEO VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
Combining the best features of traditional
architecture and combine it with modern
requirements.

Examples:

Combining the sloping roof with solar energy
harnessing system.

Usage of MUD as a building material in
modern buildings ( Using CSEB blocks)

Srilanka has been affected by variety of natural
disasters . Tsunami reconstruction activities in
various parts of Srilanka used alternative
materials like CSEB , chip concrete block sand
micro concrete

Bangladesh used bamboo for construction.
Lower parts of Bangladesh due to lack of
availability of timber now have adopted Mud
bricks.



Building Stones

Historically stone masonry,
ornamentation, foundation, road works
Present foundation, paving, finishes for
walls and floors etc.

Classification

Geological

Igneous rocks formed by cooling of
molten lava. Strong and durable

Solidifying above earth basalt,
andesite, rhyolite etc.

Solidifying far below earths surface
granite, diorite, gabbro etc.
Formed by major intrussions, dykes and
sils quartz, dolerite, gneiss etc.

Classification

Geological

Sedimentary rocks formed by
sedimentation in water followed by
intense pressure resulting in conversion
to rocks.
Eg lime stone, dolomite, sandstone
etc.
Metamorphic rocks
Igneous/sedimentary rocks transformed
due to either pressure or heat or both.
Eg- slates and marbles
Andesite
Rhyolite
Sandstone
Dolomite Limestone
Classification

Physical
Stratified
Unstratified
Foliated

Chemical
Siliceous quartz, sand etc
Argillaceous clay minerals
Calcareous carbonate of lime.

Common building stones and their uses

Granite used for heavy engineering works bridge piers, columns,
retaining walls, random rubble etc.
Basalt and trap same use as granite
Gneiss elongated platy minerals mixed with mica.
Quartzite mostly used like granite, but not used for ornamental works
as it is more brittle
Marble ornamentation, flooring etc
Slate roofing, damp proof flooring
Limestone as coarse aggregate and as also base material for cement
Sandstones ornamental work, cladding, paving etc
Laterite soft variety for walls and hard variety for paving

Criteria/Suitability of stones

Stone for masonry different types of stones used for rough work like
random rubble. Soft stones like lime stones and
sand stones can be dressed easily.
Granite is used in dressing in south indian temples
as well as for heavy engineering works.

Stone for pavements hard stones with less wear and tear.

Stone for flooring granite, marble, kota stone etc. should be able to
cut into large slabs and polished.

Stones for facing work should have attractive colours and should be
durable. Granite, marble, limestone etc.

Stones for concrete aggregates hard igneous rocks like granite preferred. Lime
stone with moderate strength also used at times.


Deterioration of Stones

Causes
Alternate wetting and drying
Alternate freezing and thawing
Chemical reaction with air in the case of sea shores/industrial areas
Living organisms, vegetation etc
Movement of chemicals between materials
Temperature variation
Wind
Nature of mortar

Methods of Preservation

Precautions during construction
Compact and durable stones to be selected
Minimize the no: of joints
Joints to be completely filled with joint filler/mortar without cavity.
Methods of Preservation.

Precautions after construction
To preserve the stones in the natural condition preservative coating is done.
Linseed oil
Alum and soap in 40:60 proportion dissolved in water
Solution of barium hydroxide in case of decay due to CaSO4
Paraffin alone or dissolved in naphtha
Paint preserves but changes the colour. Colourless paints preferred.

Various finishes

Stone product surface can be finished by different ways according to different
application, such as natural, split, sawn, polished, honed, flamed,
bushhammered, pineappled, chiselled, etc.

Different finishes will provide different slip resistance, chemical resistance and
other external factors that can affect its functionality and durability.


source: http://www.stonev.com/know/Natural-Stone-Surface-Finish.html
natural
sawn polished
source: http://www.stonev.com/know/Natural-Stone-Surface-Finish.html
honed
flamed
chiseled
Bush hammered
Pineappled Half planed
Bricks

Clay bricks

Earliest form unburnt, sundried bricks
Brick earth silica (35-70%) and alumina (10-20%)

Other desirable chemicals lime, magnesia, oxide of iron colouring agents,
fusion agent etc.

Suitability tests liquid limit, plastic limit, shrinkage limit etc.

Bricks are burnt in kilns 700 to 1100 degree C physical and chemical change
Alumina and silica fuse together to form a stronger compound which is insoluble
in water.
When clay is heated beyond 1300 degree C, the materials get vitrified.

Clay bricks

Production of Clay Bricks

Preparation of Clay
Excavated in steps rather than in layers for a better distribution of diff.
components
Preparing to mould mixing by treading, clay allowed to weather, clay washed
and processed etc.

Moulding of bricks
Hand moulded
Machine moulded (wire cut)
Pressed by machine (casting of bricks)

Burning of bricks
Temporary clamps of permanent kilns
Clamps green bricks heaped with firewood, coal etc , sealed with clay and
fired slowly to intense heat.
Permanent kilns many chambers to stack green bricks.
One cycle from loading to removal may take upto 2 weeks.

Clay bricks

Types of Bricks

Hand moulded bricks ground moulded or table moulded. More common and
less costly.
Wire cut bricks prepared clay is fed into a pug mill which is in turn forced
through a mouth piece approximately equal to the bricks cross section. This is
further cut by a frame with a no: of vertical wires into brick lengths.
Pressed bricks wire cut slab further pressed with a metal plate. Used for
facing and other decorative works.

Dimensions

Traditional sizes
Modular sizes Metric

Depression at the top frog

CPWD specification 19x9x9 cm
Normal size 23x11x9 cm

Clay bricks
Clay bricks

Bricks for special use

Facing bricks special clay for colour
Fireclay bricks for lining in devices like furnaces, ovens etc
Acid resisting bricks manufactured from materials of low clay content
Forsterite bricks used for open hearth furnaces and refining furnaces
Silicon carbide bricks carbon and silicon- used as refractory material in furnace.

Light weight bricks made from clay mixed with combustible materials or hollow
bricks. Weight may be 1/3
rd
the weight of solid brick.

Clay substitutes
Flyash bricks
Sandlime or calcium silicate bricks
Cement and concrete blocks
Clay bricks

BIS tests as per code IS 3495-1992

Tests for
Compressive strength
Water absorption
Efflorescence
Dimensional tolerance
Hardness
Soundness
Structure

Clay bricks

Compressed stabilized Earth blocks

highly cost-effective and environmentally-friendly
Compressed earth blocks can be stabilised or not. But most of the times, they
are stabilised with cement or lime.
With cement stabilization, the blocks must be cured for four weeks after
manufacturing. After this, they can dry freely and be used like common bricks
with a soil cement stabilized mortar.

Sustainability & Environmental friendliness
Earth is a local material and the soil should preferably extracted from the site
itself or not transported too far away
Earth construction is a labour-intensive technology and it is an easily
adaptable and transferable technology.
It is a cost and energy effective material.
It is much less energy consuming than country fired bricks (about 4 times less).
It is much less polluting than country fired bricks (about 4 times less)


source: http://www.earth-auroville.com/compressed_stabilised_earth_block_en.php