1.

INTRODUCTION

Throughout history, humans have constructed shelter from the material that is most
available to them. In arctic regions, that material might be ice. In the world's forested areas,
wood is a common building material. One of the most important materials used to build houses is
adobe brick. Adobe is composed of soil materials including sand, silt, and clay mixed with water
and organic matter or grass or even dung, earthen structures can be found on every continent
except Antarctica. Because soil materials are relatively ubiquitous, it is not surprising that an
estimated one-third of the world's inhabitants live in earthen structures.

Building with adobe is an "environmentally friendly" process. Adobe requires very little
exploitation of natural resources, and when adobe structures are abandoned, they weather back
into their natural components. As a result, building with adobe has a limited effect on the
environment. Adobe is said to be miracle, green construction material for buildings as well as
Architectural podiums all around the world. Fig 1 shows an adobe construction.

Fig 1. An adobe construction

(Source:http://www.builtinbliss.com/cob-code/05-physical-properties-of-adobe-bricks-and-
pressed-earth-b/)

1
2. COMPOSITION

Adobe is a mixture of clay and sand. Straw or dung were traditionally, added to the mix
for making adobe bricks. Dung was used to repel insects. The mixture to make adobe bricks
consist of roughly half sand (50 %), one-third clay (35 %), and one-sixth straw (15 %).
Sometimes a small percentage of cement or asphalt emulsion is added for stabilization and
weather proofing.
To make sure that the soil which is used for making adobe brick is the right one, jar test
experiment is conducted. A jar is filled upto its two-third with soil and water is then added until
the jar is completely filled and the mixture is allowed to stay as such overnight. When the jar is
checked the very next day, there must be 2 distinct bands of dirt with clay at the top and sand at
the bottom. A ratio of 70 % sand to 25 - 30 % clay is considered ideal for making adobe bricks.
The properties of the constituents are mentioned in the following paragraphs.

2.1 CLAY

About three-quarters of the world’s land surface has clay which is highly suitable for
making adobe bricks. Usually clay deposits are found at the foot of a hill or on agricultural land
close to rivers. There are 3 different types of clay in abundance: kaolinites, illites, and
montomorilonites. Kaolinites are preferred clays to use because they will not swell in an adobe
brick when exposed to moisture. Illite clays are subjected to light swelling but can be still used
for making adobe bricks in a dry climate or if wall is coated with water repellent coatings.
Swelling clay can lead to early failure as it has a tendency to displace the sand in the mix. Ideal
clay percentage is 25 % of all ingredients in the mix for making adobe bricks.

2.2 SILT

Silt is much finer than sand. Silt gives soil stability by increasing its internal friction, and
holds the components together when wet and compressed. Too much silt in the mix can result in
lack of cohesion and bricks will erode easily in that case.

2.3 SAND

Usually there are 2 types of sand particles, round and rough. Round sand is vulnerable to
extended dampness periods and causes the clay in adobe bricks to become hydraulic that causes

2
the ingredients to roll together. This hydraulic action can be stopped if an adobe product is
allowed to dry completely. Sharp sand offers more resistance to this hydraulic action. Sand when
combined with clay will limit swelling and shrinkage.

2.4 WATER

Water used for making adobe bricks must be free of chemical contaminants, dissolved
solids or anything that reacts with the clay in the mix or the stabilizer used in the mix. Water
should be non stagnant and free from organic matter. If too much water is used, finished product
will be less dense. In contrast if too little water is used the mix will be too dense making it harder
to pack which in turn can result in honeycombs or voids in the brick.

Table 1.shows the most suitable soil compositions that can be used for making a good adobe
brick.

Table 1. Composition of soils that make good adobe bricks

(Source: http://ehe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_g/G-521.pdf)

Soil Texture Sand ( % ) Silt ( % ) Clay ( % )

Loamy sand 70 – 85 0 – 15 0 – 30

Sandy loam 50 – 70 15 - 20 0 – 30

Sand clay loam. 50 – 70 20 - 30 0- 30

3. TYPES OF ADOBE BRICKS

Adobe bricks are classified into 5 types -:

1. TRADITIONAL ADOBE BRICKS

2. SEMI STABILIZED ADOBE BRICKS.

3. STABILIZED ADOBE BRICKS

4. PRESSED ADOBE BRICKS.

3
5. BURNT ADOBE BRICKS OR QUEMADOS.

3.1 TRADITIONAL ADOBE BRICKS

These bricks are made with poorly sorted soil composed of more or less uniform mixture
of sand, silt and clay. Straw is usually added to prevent cracking of these bricks during the
process of curing.

3.2 SEMI STABILIZED BRICKS

In these bricks small amount of asphaltic or bituminous emulsion or Portland cement is

added as a stabilizing material to make the bricks water resistant. Semi stabilized bricks are made
in the same way as traditional adobe bricks but with the addition of 2 - 3% of asphaltic emulsion
added to the mix.

3.3 STABILIZED ADOBE BRICKS

Stabilized adobe bricks contain 5-12% asphaltic emulsion. Stabilizer is added to limit the
water absorption by these bricks after 7 days of immersion in water to less than 2.5% by weight.

3.4 PRESSED ADOBE BRICKS

Pressed adobe bricks possess high compressive strength. They cure more rapidly than
traditional adobe bricks. They are manufactured from traditional adobe or stabilized adobe
materials that are pressed into dense brick form using hand operated press or hydraulically
operated machines. If they are used without stabilizers and are exposed to moisture, they will
disintegrate rapidly.

3.5 BURNT ADOBE OR QUEMADO

These are traditional sun dried bricks which has now undergone modification by low
temperature firing. Combustibles are fed through small doors at the end of the kiln and smoke
escapes through holes at the top. It takes 2-3 days of firing to produce 300-500 quemados.

4
4. MAKING OF ADOBE BRICKS

The first feature that has to be taken care of before molding adobe bricks is to prepare the
site (called brickyard) for brick molding, brick storage and mixing. For this the very first step is
to measure the space available in the site. Next step is to enable delivery of material. A sturdy
driveway is preferable for the movement of dump trucks etc. Secondly determine and prepare the
location of mixer for which several factors like mixer’s proximity to raw materials etc has to be
taken into account. The last feature to prepare in a brickyard is the drainage system. If no proper
drainage system is provided puddle water can damage and delay the curing process of bricks.
Approximately 1 cu yd of adobe soil is required for producing 80 bricks.

4.1 PROCEDURE

The following procedure is adopted traditionally for making adobe bricks:

Step - 1

Select a site that is near a suitable soil deposit which has a large level area for drying and curing
the bricks.

Step - 2

Dig a pit about 2 feet deep and of any convenient size for mixing. Before mixing, soak the pit
thoroughly for at least 12 hours to saturate the retaining perimeter. Mixing can also take place in
a wheelbarrow, or by lining the pit with tarps.

Step - 3

When it’s ready to start, put some soil in the pit and add just enough water, so that mixing can be
done properly leading to a stiff mix. Add straw or dried manure to the mix if desired. Straw
provides a place for insects and moisture and may rot away with time, so sand is preferred.

Step - 4

Next, transport the mix to the drying area. The drying area should be sprinkled with sand to
prevent the wet blocks from binding to the surface of the drying area. Forms should be
thoroughly wet before filling.

5
Step - 5

Fill the forms with the mix and compact the corners thoroughly. With a straight edge, strike off
the form and gently remove it, leaving the wet adobe bricks to dry for several days (at least
three) before handling. Wash and reuse the forms immediately, but do not disturb the bricks.

After several days, the bricks should be strong enough to be turned on their sides so
that drying can continue. Adobe bricks gain strength with drying time, provided they are not
exposed to rain or other moisture. If showers are prevalent during the brick making season, it’s
necessary to stack the partially cured adobes in loose ricks and protect them as much as possible
from moisture. The brick storage area should be close to the production area since these bricks
are heavy. The brick storage area does not require much preparations other than leveling and a
covering with thin layer of gravel incase if the ground is sticky.

A typical 2000 sq.ft house (185 sqm) would use approximately 5,120 adobe bricks. A
skilled team of for can make 600 adobe bricks / day and lay up to 250 bricks into the wall in an
eight hour working day.

5. SIZE OF ADOBE BRICKS

Adobe bricks are available in the following sizes as shown in Table 2

Table 2. Common sizes of finished adobe bricks with their weight

(Source: http://ehe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_g/G-521.pdf )

Brick-size (inches) Weight (pounds)

4x8x16 28
4x10x14 (common) 35-40
4x10x16 35
4x9x18 36
4x12x18 38
5x12x16 53
5x10x20 55
5x12x18 59

6
6. TESTS ON ADOBE BRICKS

The tests and results of these tests are specified as per the New Mexican code.

 To test for strength, a finished brick is dropped from a height of 0.9 m to 1.5 m (3 to 5
feet) and check whether it breaks or not.

 The New Mexican code specifies an average compressive strength of 300 psi (pounds per
square inch) for adobe bricks. This test is very crucial especially while taking into
account the greater amount of load a wall must resist while considering the weight of a
heavy building material such as adobe. Table 3 shows the values of compressive strength
of different types of adobe bricks with its varying sizes.

 In stabilized and semi stabilized adobe are tested for water absorption by cutting a four
inch adobe specimen from the brick, drying it and then subjected to moisture for 7 days
and expressing the weight gained in percentage. The New Mexican code specifies that
water absorption in the bricks should not exceed 2.5 % by the weight of the brick. Also at
the site, a pocket knife blade is made to penetrate into the adobe. An easy penetration of
blade represents whether the brick is of poor quality (i.e. not a completely dried brick).

 Moisture content is also determined in stabilized and semi stabilized adobe bricks by first
taking the weight of a four inch specimen from an adobe unit and then taking its dry
weight. Moisture content is then calculated as percentage of weight change relative to dry
weight. The code specifies the fact that the moisture content of a stabilized or semi
stabilized brick should not exceed 4 % by the weight of the brick.

7
 Table 3. Physical test results on adobe bricks

(Source : file:///C:/.-Physical-Properties-of-Adobe- Bricks-and-Pressed-Earth-B.pdf )

Adobe type Size Compressive Remark

(inches) strength
(p.s.i.)
Avg results
Traditional 10 x 14 x 4 383
from 34 adobe
makers
Adobe from
Traditional 8 x 3 ½ x 16 426
Las Palomas,
Mexico
Adobe from
Traditional 8 x 4 x 12 615
Rancho de
Taos
Old adobe (45
Traditional 8 ½ x 4 ½ x 17 451
+ yrs) from
Chamisal
Old adobe
Traditional 10 x 4 x 14 314
(100+ yrs)
from San Juan
Pueblo
Burnt adobe
Quemado 8 x 3 ½ x 16 644
from Las
Palomas
Pressed 5½ x3¾ x 769 Made using
11 ½ cinva ram.
Asphalt
Pressed 5½ x3¾ x 580
emulsion
11 ½ added
to adobe made
using a cinva
ram
Avg test
Semi 10 x 4 x 14 388
results from 6
stabilized adobe makers
Average test
Stabilized 10 x 4 x 14 426
results from 6
adobe makers

8
 Test results
Stabilized 7 ½ x 3 ½ x 15 645
from Hans
Sump Cmpny

7. EFFECT OF SOL GEL TITANIA COATINGS ON ADOBE BRICKS.

There is increasing interest in the application of functional TiO2 coatings on building

materials to impart new surface functionalities.TiO2 can be incorporated on the surface of
sustainable materials, such as materials made of clay, for example on the surface of bricks or
tiles employed in hospitals as special coatings taking advantage of the bactericide effect of TiO2.
The bactericide effect can also play a role against biological attack by fungi in building façades.
In addition, TiO2 is a biocompatible material and, when used as a coating on building materials,
does not provoke toxicity issues. The sol–gel layers modified the surface of adobe, by enhancing
the adobe performance, like higher water resistance and imparting bactericidal behavior. The
modified developed surface of adobe bricks is very attractive. The TiO 2 films synthesized using
sol–gel technology on the surface of adobe imparts water resistance and antibacterial properties.

The raw material used to make adobe was commercially available in the Minas Gerais
region (Brazil).The utilized clay (kaolinite clay) for this experiment had a nominal chemical
composition of (wt %): 34% SiO2, 27% Al2O3 and 21% Fe2O3 and a true density of 2.63 g/cm 3.
The adobe brick sample showed the following nominal chemical composition (wt.%) 42.7% ,
SiO2, 24.5% Al2O3, 19.0% Fe2O3, 0.04% MnO, 0.04% MgO, 0.02% Na 2O, 0.08% K2O, 1.87%
TiO2, 0.16% CaO and 11.63% of organic matter. Adobe samples were prepared using moulds
specially designed for this work. It consists of dense polyethylene boards with 2 mm thickness.
The production process involved mixing water and the raw material, forming the samples by
pouring the mixture in moulds and drying at approximately 30 0C in an open to the air oven under
normal atmospheric conditions and pressure. The titania sol–gel precursor was prepared by acid
catalysis of titanium IV isopropoxide and condensation with ethanol used as solvent. Nitric acid
was used as catalyst. The obtained sols were deposited on the adobe substrates . The obtained sols
were deposited on the adobe substrates.

9
 The sol–gel method proved an excellent alternative to improve properties of adobe by
coating with TiO2 sol–gel layers. The layer formed on the surface of adobe presented
thicknesses in the range of 20 nm to 50 nm. The layers were crack-free and exhibited a good
bonding to the adobe substrate. While bactericide and water resistance properties remain to be
confirmed, the TiO2 coated adobe bricks developed here represent novel materials with added
value for sustainable construction applications. A further advantage provided by the sol–gel
coating is the expected higher durability of the treated adobe blocks for plaster-less construction
and the possible lower maintenance requirement for adobe walls. Also sol–gel processing occurs
at room temperature hence it is in general a low-cost, environmental friendly technique. The cost
of the sol–gel coating may be lower than the cost of conventional paints taking into consideration
the significant difference in thickness; commercial paint layer thickness may be of the order of
millimeters while the proposed coatings developed here are in the nanometer range.

Fig. 2. The sol gel coating on the adobe brick

(Source: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-252846840.html)

8. EFFECT OF WASTE PHOSPHOGYPSUM ON ADOBE BRICKS.

The best known disadvantages of adobe bricks are that it has low mechanical properties
and poor resistance to water. Protection against water usually requires expensive industrial

10
materials containing cement, lime, asphalt and/or bituminous material. A study is conducted by
using the industrial by-product phosphogypsum (PG) and natural gypsum as stabilization
material for adobe production. Phosphogypsum is a by-product of chemical reaction whereby
sulfuric acid is reacted with phosphate rock to produce the phosphoric acid needed for fertilizer
production. PG has used as set controller in the manufacture of Portland cement, as a raw
material for clinker, as a secondary binder with lime and cement and in production of artificial
aggregates and in road stabilization. A small amount of this waste is used in soil and road
stabilization and the remaining are usually deposited in open areas or dumped to river or sea .
The average annual production of PG in Turkey is about three million tons. The lack of
utilization possibility of PG in the country causes economic loss and environmental pollution.
PG can be utilized for adobe stabilization. Utilization of various industrial wastes such as
phosphogypsum not only solves environmental problems but also provides a new resource for
construction. A comparative study is conducted by using waste phosphogypsum (PG) and natural
gypsum (NG) as stabilization material in the production of adobe samples. For this purposes, a
local soil obtained from Cagis region in the city of Balikesir was selected in adobe production.
Tests were performed on the selected adobe soil.

The various properties of adobe soil are specified in Table 4-:

Table 4. Properties of adobe soil

(Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950061807000359)

Property Soil

1. Classification

AASHTO A-7-5

USCS MH

2. Atterberg limits

Liquid limit LL % 56.41

11
 Plastic limit PL % 35.71

Plasticity index PI % 20.70

3. Grain size distribution

Gravel (>4.76mm) % 1.00

Sand (0.074–4.76 mm) % 18.00

Clay and silt (<0.074 mm) % 81.00

4. Proctor test

Optimium water content % 37.70

Maximum dry weight (KN/m3) 13.64

5. Specific gravity 2.44

The chemical compositions

of waste Constituents P.G N.G
phosphogypsum and natural
gypsum are shown SiO2 3.44 0.61 in Table 5.

Al2O3 0.88 0.10

Table 5.
Chemical properties Fe2O3sss 0.32 0.10
(source:http:/
/www.sciencedirect. CaO 32.04 37 com/science/
article/pii/S0950061 807000359)
MgO - -

SO3 44.67 46.18

K2O - -

Na2O 0.13 0.3

P2O5 0.5 12 -

F 0.79 -

CaO (Free) 0.81 -

 The required amount of phosphogypsum (PG) and natural gypsum (NG) measured as a
percentage of dry soil weight and added to the soil. The materials (soil + PG and soil + NG) were
first mixed in dry state for 3 min, and then a controlled amount of water was added and mixed in
a mechanical mixer for 2 min. The mixture was then placed immediately in the mold and
compacted. The amount of mixing water was determined by considering the liquid limit of the
soil. After keeping the specimens one day in the mold, the samples were remolded and turned
over every day to ensure a more uniform drying. A series of tests were conducted to determine
the compressive strength, flexural strength, softening in water, drying shrinkage and dry unit
weight of adobe samples made with and without stabilizers. The compressive strength tests were
performed on 5 x 5 x 5 cm cubic adobe samples at 28 days and the compressive strength values
were determined by taking the average of three samples. The flexural strength test was
performed on 4 x 4 x 16 cm prismatic test samples at 28 days. To obtain the resistance of adobe
samples against softening in water, 10 x 10 x 10 cm three cubic test samples were prepared from
the (soil + PG) mixtures. The samples were first dried for 4 weeks in the air and then were put in
the containers that were filled with water of 5 cm depth for determining the softening in water.
The time passed between putting the samples in the container and obtaining sufficient softening
was recorded as the softening time. The softening test is shown in Fig 3.

(a) Immersion in water after 30 min (b) Immersion in water after 45 min

(c) Immersion in water after 60 min (d) Immersion in water after 145 min.

13
 Fig. 3. Softening test
(Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950061807000359)

The results of shrinkage, softening in water and dry unit weight tests of PG-stabilized
adobe samples are specified in Table 6-:

Table 6. Results of tests

(Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950061807000359)

Stabilizers P.G Shrinkage ( % ) Softening in Dry unit weight

Water (min) kN/m3
0 4.2 35 13.04
5 3.39 56 13.13
10 3.15 76 13.37
15 3.06 11 13.51
20 2.88 163 13.68
25 2.49 201 13.69

From the experiments, it was found that the strengths of stabilized adobe samples
increased with increased contents of stabilization agents. Addition of both types of gypsum in
amounts larger than 10% led to an increase in the strength. The maximum increase in strength
value is obtained when there is 25% phosphogypsum addition. The main deficiency of adobe is
its susceptibility to water damage. Adobe specimens prepared with phosphogypsum have a
softening time 45 min more than what is described in the standard. Unstabilized adobe samples
have the softening time less than 45 min. The most resistance to water was obtained at 25% PG.
The use of PG as a stabilization material reduces drying shrinkage. A mixture prepared with
25% PG seems to give the lowest shrinkage values. Adobe specimens prepared with
phosphogypsum addition also have a smooth appearance. The soil phosphogypsum mixtures
used in adobe production can also be used as plaster for adobe walls. Addition of
phosphogypsum and natural gypsum to adobe soil increases the unit weight of adobe samples.

14
9. ADOBE SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainable building materials can be defined as materials with overall superior

performance in terms of specified criteria. The following criteria are commonly used:

 Locally produced and sourced materials

 Transport costs and environmental impact

 Thermal efficiency

 Occupant needs and health consideration

 Financial viability

 Recyclability of building materials and the demolished building

 Waste and pollution generated in the manufacturing process

 Energy required in the manufacturing process

 Use of renewable resources

 Toxic emissions generated by the product

 Maintenance costs.

Adobe bricks are made of earth, water and dried in the sun. They can be made in various
ways, depending on the local climate, site, available materials, tools and labor. Sustainable
construction is achieved using natural resources, such as adobe, in such a way as to meet
economic, social and cultural needs, but not depleting or degrading these resources to such an
extent that they cannot meet these needs for the future generations. Earth is a cheap,
environmentally friendly and abundant building material and has been used extensively for
construction all around the world. Today the prevalence of earth as a building material may be
attributed to its proven durability demonstrated by the number of ancient earthen buildings that
remain standing today. Scientific work have demonstrated that adobe has low thermal
conductivity and high heat capacity enabling earthen building thermal stability compared with
concrete building. Sustainable development depends upon socio economic and environmental

15
targets and concerns all sectors of human activity. The major reasons for green buildings are to
reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, waste production and water use versus
traditional buildings. The energy consumption of a building depends on the building construction
and material, building type, climatic conditions, occupancy behavior, heating, cooling, and
lighting. Earth housing meets the requirements of green construction. Shukla et al (2009)
calculated the energy for construction and maintenance of an adobe house. They found that the
construction using adobe was not energy intensive and also found that by using adobe bricks 370
GJ energy can be saved per year. Mitigation of carbon dioxide to environment was reduced by
101 tons per year. It was also found that adobe houses were much more environment friendly
than conventional buildings. Fig.4 shows an earth ship constructed out of adobe bricks in
Mexico.

Fig. 4. An earthship home in Mexico constructed using adobe bricks.

(Source: www. groundlingearthyheavenly.blogspot.com)

10. ADVANTAGES

The advantages of using adobe bricks are-:

1. Incredible durability.

16
2. Energy efficient-Operating on a 12-hour cycle of passive cooling and solar heating,
adobe reduces the reliance on expensive AC units and as electricity prices continue to rise
over time, the energy savings which will be available rises proportionately.

3. Economical-Materials for making adobe are locally available. Painting is not necessary,
hence saving the painting costs.

4. Low environmental impact and Minimal carbon footprint.

5. Effective thermal mass- Adobe causes good thermal insulation especially in those areas
where there are marked differences in day and night temperatures. Adobe collects heat
from the sun during the day and radiates the heat back into the room when it’s dark.

6. Good acoustic- adobe posses good sound insulation properties.

7. Attractive building material- Bricks are earthy with an attractive golden brown colour
determined by the sand and clay in the adobe mix.

8. Compatible to cement based mortars and plasters.

9. Recyclable

10. Fire resistant.

11. Ease of cutting, turning or adjusting adobe bricks dimensionally. Adobe bricks can be
given varying shapes facilitating diverse structural requirements. Adobe bricks are
adaptable to wide range of architectural styles.

12. Selective composition of adobe bricks can produce crack resistant bricks.

13. Does not require skilled labours or contactors for construction using adobe bricks.

14. Requires no maintenance –there is no need of providing seal

15. Adobe’s compressive strength allows it to bear heavy roof loads.

16. Biodegradable

17. Non toxic

17
18. Low embodied energy- A materials embodied energy is the total amount of energy
expended to produce the material and get it to its final location and / use. Adobe brick
posses low embodied energy.

11. DISADVANTAGES

The disadvantages of adobe bricks are-:

1. Prolonged exposure to water can cause the bricks to weaken and disintegrate.

2. Susceptible to earthquakes- Adobe bricks if not properly designed and strengthened, can
lead to structural damage and sometimes collapse of structures. The problem in
earthquakes is that the walls made out of adobe bricks are not reinforced and locked
tightly together so that they maintain their mutual support through seismic events.
However, repair work is quite easy because the same mud materials and plaster that were
used in the original wall can be used for repairs. The resulting repaired structure is as
strong as the original if the repairs are made carefully. The effect of earthquake on walls
constructed using adobe bricks are shown in Fig.5.

3. Manufacture of adobe bricks is a labour intensive work.

4. The bricks are susceptible to weather conditions during their manufacturing. ( wet and
freezing conditions)

5. Adobe bricks are heavy.

18
 Fig.5. Effect of earthquake on adobe walls
(Source:http://www.worldhousing.net/uploads/WHETutorial_Adobe_English.pdf)

12. ECONOMICAL ASPECT

The following table shows the 2013 price list of adobe bricks for 800 sq.ft of Coverage.

Table 7. 2013 price list of natural adobe bricks.

(Source: http://www.claymineadobe.com/adobe-prices.html )

Size Quantity Prices / pallet

(inches) (Mexican $)

16 x 4 x 16 72 Mex $ 220.00
12 x 4 x 16 96 Mex $ 220.00

10 x 4 x 16 96 Mex $ 200.00

8 x 4 x 16 120 Mex $ 150.00

6 x 4 x 16 192 Mex $ 220.00

19
 4 x 4 x 16 216 Mex $ 270.00

3 x 4 x 16 240 Mex $ 270.00

8 x 4 x 12 144 Mex $ 200.00

3 x 4 x 12 288 Mex $ 270.00

8x4x8 240 Mex $ 180.00

where 1 peso (Mex $) = ₹ 4.89

So a conventional brick construction can cost as much as ₹ 1,614/sq m (₹ 150/sq ft)

whereas a mud house construction can costs as little as ₹ 215/sq m (₹ 20/sq ft) which makes
adobe a cost effective building material.

13. COMPARISON BETWEEN CONVENTIONAL BRICKS AND ADOBE

BRICKS.

 Fired bricks are more resistant to water compared to adobe bricks.

 Typical fired bricks (4 inches x 8 inches x 2 inches) are smaller in size than adobe bricks.
 The minimum compressive strength of conventional bricks are 3.5 N/mm2 where that of
adobe bricks are 2.068 N/mm2.
 For the manufacture of fired bricks, trained operator is required.
 Maintenance and repair of machines for making of fired bricks is relatively costly.
 Adobe bricks are more durable than fired bricks.
 Adobe bricks have better thermal insulation properties compared to fired bricks.
 Adobe bricks are cheaper than fired bricks.

14. CASE STUDY

14.1 RWANDA EDUCATIONAL CENTER IN NYANZA

This newly completed education center in Nyanza, Rwanda is a subtle design that uses
local materials and crafts with a sophisticated layout to provide for a multitude of community

20
needs. Designed by Dominikus Stark Architekten, the structure has been purposely built using
simple building forms and established local building materials arranged in a way that creates
multiple layers of spaces in a contemporary form. The passively cooled complex was constructed
completely with local labor and materials like clay adobe bricks, steel, wicker and papyrus. The
transitions protect the interior from a hot sun and the thermal mass of the clay brick walls and
natural ventilation through the wicker doors maintains a comfortable climate inside. Openings
set high in the exterior adobe brick walls allowed the hot stale air to escape. The Fig.6 shows
Rwanda educational centre.

Fig.6. Rwanda education centre in Nyanza

(Source:http://inhabitat.com/incredible-modern-rwandan-education-center-made-
with-local-materials/)

14.2 LYNEDOCH ECOVILLAGE, NEAR STELLENBOSCH

Number of adobe brick homes has been erected for staff members of the Sustainability
Institute and the Lynedoch community. Adobe bricks were made on site using a single hand hold
form and then cured for a few weeks on the premises. Clay provides the glue which holds the
bricks together. It is important that they should be dry, hard and crack-free. Adobe bricks have
the capacity to absorb, store and release solar heat, i.e. thermal mass, though their thermal
capacity is much lower than that of clay-fired bricks or concrete. The walls were built on a
concrete foundation and the external walls were also protected by a lime and clay mix plaster.
Insulated wooden ceiling were installed, and corrugated roof cladding. Insulation includes
building cavity walls filled in with materials such as mineral wools, strawboard, wood, glass

21
fibre, and cellulose fibre or recycled carpet under felt as used in the Stonehouse project. Fig.7
shows Lynedoch eco village.

Fig.7. Lynedoch ecovillage, near Stellenbosch

(Source: http://www.urgentevoke.com/profiles/blogs/lynedoch-ecovillage)

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15. CONCLUSION

Building with adobe is a timeless tradition that dates back millennia. Adobe bricks, far
from being an obsolete construction material with poor insulating properties, are now recognized
as very contemporary because of their unique abilities to store heat and moderate extremes of
temperature inside a structure. Properly constructed adobe homes, taking full advantage of the
sun in either active or passive solar systems, are extremely energy efficient. Also, the standard
prices for completed adobe homes are comparable to what is paid for an insulated concrete
forms. Adobe scores over the usual construction materials in terms of its low environmental
impact, easy applicability, and its low cost unlike the requirement of elaborate building
technique and high cost when usual bricks are being used.

Thus construction using adobe bricks can be made as a lasting method for construction if
implemented properly. JKRL40 vacuum extruders (China) are recent developments in the field
of adobe brick making which are capable of making bricks with
Strong applicability, compact structure, lower energy consumption, higher yield etc. Adobe
bricks can emerge as a technology for future which creates fewer burdens on planet and can
serve as a practical alternative for reducing the rising energy prices. Hence adobe can be defined
as an ideal cost effective building material for the future housing plans.

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REFERENCES

1. George’s. Austin, Adobe as a building material, New Mexico bureau of Mines and Mineral
sources, sirocco NM 87801 , pp 69-71

2. Alex Alexander and Pierre Roux, Sustainable building materials, chapter3, Anyway
Solutions, pp 29 – 45

3. Adobe as a sustainable building material- a thermal performance, Journal of Applied

science, 10(19):2211-2216, 2010, pp 2211-2216

4. Juliana Calabria A. , Wander L. Vasconcelos , Doni J. Daniel , Richard Chater , David

McPhail , Aldo R. Boccaccini , Synthesis of sol–gel titania bactericide coatings on adobe
brick, Construction and Building Materials 24 (2010), pp 384–389.

5. Nurhayat Degirmenci, The using of waste phosphogypsum and natural gypsum in adobe
stabilization, Construction and Building Materials, Volume 22, Issue 6, June 2008, pp
1220-1224.

6 Lisa Schroder, Vince Ogletree, Adobe Homes for All Climates: Simple, Affordable, and
Earthquake-Resistant.

7. http://www.chiangmailifeconstruction.com/earth-building-adobe-bricks/

8. http://proxims.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/working-with-adobe-bricks/adobe1-2

9. http://www.ecofriend.com/adobe-bricks-eco-friendly-option-green-home.html

10. http://slock62.hubpages.com/hub/Straw-Brick-Building-And-Energy-Efficiency

11. www.file:///C:/Users/admin/Documents/seminar/05.-Physical-Properties-of-Adobe-Brick

and-Pressed-earth-brick.B.pdf.

12 http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-make-adobe-brick#.US4iZdK6aP8

13. http://www.wikihow.com/Build-an-Adobe-Wall

14. http://www.truebluecontractors.com/articles/building-encylopedia-learn-terms/adobe-
brick
 

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