Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

CHAPTER -1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 GENERAL

Super Adobe is a form of earth bag construction that was developed by Iranian architect
Nader Khalili(Lambert M Surhone).The technique uses layered long fabric tubes or bags
filled with clay to form a compression structure. The system connects traditional and natural
resources such us mud, water, air and fire to create energy efficient houses. It supplies an
effective way for an individual to build residence in a very short period of time without
assistance. Due to the self-supporting arched roof structure, it can be one single space, or
form more spaces through merging multiple arch systems. This allows for flexibility and
variability of the space. Due to its materials are native and recyclable as well as its structure
needs no construction equipment, and its prototype has good ventilation, lighting and
insulation. Super adobe is a kind of ecological and sustainable building system.

Fig.1.1 Super Adobe

The inspiration and concept for the Super adobe system originates not from the modern
architecture design experience, but from the influence of traditional rural buildings and
Dept. Of CE 1
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

Landscape, together with a 13th century Persian poet named Rumi. in Iran, Nader Khalilcame
his architectural design certification in California in1970. Like many other architects, Khalil
had designed many skyscrapers and then realized that he should do something meaningful for
those in need. khalili gave up his work as a modernism architect in the USA and traveled to
the desert area in Iran for five years.

When viewing all that with a new perspective, khalili saw wonderful, pure and valuable
traditional rural architecture and affected and moved by tens of thousands of rural mud rooms.
Rumi conceived that elements such as water, air and fire in the land have a great power which
can cycle inside and outside of the life. If these elements can be well balanced, the
environment and all life in the world would have good status (Stephen. Holgate 2003). Rumi
had said "The earth will become the gold of the wise". Affected by Rumi, Khalili realized the
value of the earth and formed his design concept using clay to build and fire to burn (Ceramic
House).

Fig.1.2Construction of super adobe

Nader Khalili began to research how to use natural resources as much as possible and to
study the possibility of no use of high technology to build house in modern world. The Super
adobe system could satisfy above request and it has good seismic performance. It is a good
option for the poor and is also suitable for the moon. In 1986, Khalil founded a research

Dept. Of CE 2
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

organization called Cal-Earth which began practice in the California Hesperia area of the
Mojave Desert. His main studies are about earth art and the technical problems of clay
construction. The scope of his research includes building a house on the moon with technical
innovations for NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) as well as building
housing for homeless people in the United States. The building philosophy Secks harmony
between art and nature. The sandbag engineer prototype won the Aga khan Award in 2004[8].
Cal-Earth has posted their concepts and methods on the Internet. The works and practices of
Cal-earth have been studied by other research institutions as a model.

Fig.1.3Super adobe

Dept. Of CE 3
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

CHAPTER -2

MATERIALS USED

The essential material in building with bags is, of course, the bags themselves. Most
commonly the bags used are made of polypropylene or burlap. Polypropylene sacks come in
a variety of sizes, and are extremely common. It is important that UV resistant bags be used,
as deterioration by sunlight is the biggest danger. Recycled seed or feed sacks of
polypropylene are often available for free from various sources. The sacks come in a
variety of sizes and also come in a tube form, which is much cheaper to buy per square foot.
Burlap sacks have also been used, but are not as durable and can also be more expensive,
although they are a "natural" material. Custom-sewn bags have been created for special
shapes, and "site sewn" custom bags can easily be made using bent nails or wire, The other
essential material is that which fills the bag. A number of materials have been used, including
sand, clay and gravel. While an ideal mixture would be a standard adobe mix of sand and clay,
pretty much whatever subsoil is available is what has been used. The fill material can be used
either wet or dry, but moistened material creates a more stable structure. An efficient system
is to create your sack foundation and/or walls using soil from site excavation.
The most important consideration for bag choice is the material used to fill it. A good rule of
thumb is the weaker the fill material, the stronger the bag material must be. In some cases,
once a strong fill material has set, the bags could be removed from the exposed areas of the
structure without any structural loss of integrity. On the other hand, if a weak material such as
dry sand is used, it is essential that the bags be kept integral, and plastered as soon as
possible.
Additional materials used in construction include barbed wire, used to keep the bags from
slipping, and regular wire, which can be used to weave the bags similar to basket-making
techniques. For extremely strong structures, cement can be used to create soil-cement
mixtures to fill the bags. Old nails are often used to pin bags closed, create new shapes, and
keep barbed wire in place .tools adapted to or developed for this technique are easily

Dept. Of CE 4
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

available or constructed. A wheelbarrow is used to transport materials and can be used to

directly pour soil into larger bags. Stands to hold bags open for filling have been made with a
variety of materials Tube sections of cardboard or PVC, which fit into the longer
tube-shaped bags, make filling these bags much easier. Mechanical pumps have been used at
Cal Earth with great efficiency to fill the tubular bags. A tamper is an essential tool used to
compact the bags once they are in place. The best tamper I have used was created from a 5
foot long 1 1/4" piece of metal pipe welded to a 6x6 1/4" metal plate. Coffee cans filled with
soil can be tossed easily and used to fill bags higher up on the wall.

Fig 2.1: compass

2.1 POLYPROPYLENE BAG

Polyethylene bags have many good characteristics that are very similar to the other major
poly bag substance. The polypropylene is completely clear and gets degradable when
exposed to UV rays. They are not static resisting soil will not affect soil degradation.

2.2 HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE - HDPE

HDPE is mostly used for manufacturing outlets. The chemical composition of the
polymer that consists of a long chain of straight molecules whose structure is linear
throughout and features minimal branching. This structure of HDPE results in highly dense
plastic bags that are sturdy, light in weight and relatively opaque in nature. The bag is also
extremely resistant to chemicals, water, and even heat comparably. it can conceal the content
Dept. Of CE 5
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

carried because of its opaque nature and it is safe for packing. it is also used for
manufacturing used in handling. packaging or serving materials that require a CO2 or oxygen
barrier.

2.3 LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE- LDPE

These types of plastic bags are commonly used in the manufacturing stage. The polymer
is constructed with short and branched chains that are prepared with low density. This results
in a plastic film that is light in weight and of low tensile strength. The resulting bag is not
stretchable like the HDPE. The plastic is of a low melting point, making it for heat sealing
applications.The light polymer is easy to see through it

2.4 LINEAR LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE- LLDPE

These are a common type of plastic bag material used for the manufacture of plastic bags.
The polymer is improved with non-branching chains but the tensile strength is low compared
to that of HDPE. The gauge and clarity of LLDPE are slightly lower compared to
high-density polyethylene plastic but the strength can be maintained Thus they are more
cost-effective and preferred compared to low-density polyethylene plastics

2.5 MEDIUM DENSITY POLYETHYLENE MDPE

This is in between high density and low-density polyethylene. Though it is not as opaque
as high density,it is not as clear as low-density polyethylene but it is also not dense enough to
accommodate bulk storage. it comes with low tensile properties and easily stretches and are
tolerant of chemical encounter

Dept. Of CE 6
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

CHAPTER 3

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS OF SUPERADOB

` A super adobe structure is a man-made building made of sandbags (small or

long) with the native material available in abundance and stacking or putting

them in a layer that is reinforced with barbed wires. Super adobe is extensively

used in temporary buildings used for disaster relief, flood control, stabilization

of water edges, embankments. If the naively available material doesn’t have a

good binding property then cement or lime is added to it then the walls are

plastered and which is coated with waterproof coating

Fig 3.1 Super adobe

3.1 PROCESS

The foundation for the structure is formed by digging a 12” (approx. 30 cm) deep
circular trench with an 8’-14’ (approx. 2 to 4m) diameter. Material removed from the
foundation area can be saved to fill the bags, setting aside topsoil and organic materials.The
fill material is then prepared. Again, subsoil is used, with large rocks and sticks being

Dept. Of CE 7
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

removed. For small site walls, this soil can be used dry, but for structural purposes, the fill
material should be moistened and left overnight. The material should be made wet enough to
compact well. Experience and practice will soon lead to proper moisture levels. The first
couple of rows are often filled with gravel to preclude winking of water into the wall.

Two or three layers of the filled polypropylene sand tubes are set below the ground level
in the foundation trench. A chain is anchored to the ground in the center of the circle and used
like a compass to trace the shape of the base. Another chain is fastened just outside the dome
wall: this is the fixed or height compass and gives you the interior measurement for every
single layer of super adobe bags as they corbel ever higher. The height compass is exactly the
diameter of the dome. The center chain/compass is used to ensure the accuracy of each new
super adobe layer as it is laid and tamped. On top of each layer of tamped, filled tubes, a
tensile loop of barbed wire is placed to help stabilize the location of each consecutive layer: it
plays a crucial role in the tensile strength of the dome - it is the 'mortar'. Window voids can
be placed in several ways: either by rolling the filled tube back on itself around a circular
plug (forming an arched header) or by waiting for the earth mixture to set and sawing out a
Gothic or pointed arch void. A round skylight can even be the top of the dome. It is not
recommended to exceed the 14’ (4m) diameter design in size, but many larger structures have
been created by grouping several "beehives" together to form a sort of connected village of
domes.

Fig 3.2 Super adobe components

Dept. Of CE 8
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

3.2 PRINCIPLES OF SUPERADOBE CONSTRUCTION

 Base planning units on natural boundaries or flows, such as aquifers, transition zones,
or flows of air, heat, or water, materials, nutrients, and people
 Design with nature
 Consider global or regional effects of the building process
 Encourage inter jurisdictional planning
 Incorporate broad, cooperative, community-based local decision making……
 Maintain long-term monitoring and feedback on effects of buildings
 Apply an interdisciplinary approach to information
 Integrate (don’t just balance) economic, social, and environmental concerns
 Link ecosystem planning to democratic change, social learning, community building,
and environmental education
 Use, wherever possible, locally sourced materials with low embedded energy

3.3 STEPS OF CONSTRUCTIONS

 Collect the tools

 Prepare the earth mix which is stabilized with cement or lime, or asphalt emulsion.
 Add enough water to ball together when squeezed, yet not leave the hand wet. If no
cement or lime is available, use raw earth for a temporary shelter. (Experimental - try
snow in bags and compact.)
 Place the door away from wind and water.
 Dig the foundation trench 30 cm (12”) deep.
 Level and compact. (The foundation will be 2-3 completed bag rows.)
 Place the bag in the trench, fold the end under to close, and start filling upright like a
short column.
 Always put in 2-3 cans of earth and shake to the end.
 Use gravity's help by sloping the bag on your leg and walking backwards as it fills -
do not strain. Let the bag fill as full as possible and check the position with the

Dept. Of CE 9
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

compass tool.
 Twist and tuck under the bag ends to close.
 Compact the filled bag as hard as you can using a tamper, to make a smooth, solid,
uniform block. Only compacted earth becomes strong.
 Attach continuous barbed wire - 1 wire for domes up to 4m (12 ft), 2 wires for bigger.
Where breaks occur, overlap the wires by 2ft. (65 cm).
 Continue coiling bags.
 14, 15) Use compass to make the dome shape
 16) Pre-cut bags for a doorway knock-out Panel. Stabilized earth must be cut after
tamping at every row
 17) Punch out pre-cut panels to open after a min. of 5 rows, or when the dome is
completed
 18) Insert pipes for windows sloped to outside for rain
 19) Coil upper rows, but don’t stand on the wet bag
 20) Fill and place bag above the row below and work it inwards to meet the compass
circle. Tamp the bag with gentle slope to outside
 21) Add an arched entry to the opening to buttress and protect the entrance
 22) Plaster the exterior before bags disintegrate and
 23) Waterproof with locally suitable materials to resist moisture and erosion
 24) Finish with a water-resistant cement/lime plaster such as Reptile layered from
bottom to top, or smooth cement or lime plasters finish

Fig 3.3. Step-1

Dept. Of CE 10
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

Fig 3.4. Step-2&3

Fig 3.5. Step-4

Fig 3.6. Step-5

Dept. Of CE 11
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

Fig 3.7. Step-6,7&8

Fig 3.8. Step-9,10,11&12

Fig 3.9. Step 13

Dept. Of CE 12
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

Fig 3.10. Step-14,15&16

Fig 3.11. Step-17,18,19&20

Fig 3.12. Step-21,22&23

Dept. Of CE 13
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

Fig 3.13. Step-24

3.4 FINISHING

Once the corbelled dome is complete, it can be covered in several different kinds of
exterior treatments, usually plaster. Khalili developed a system that used 85% earth and 15%
cement plaster and which is then covered by “Reptile”, a veneer of grapefruit sized balls of
cement and earth. Reptile is easy to install and because the balls create easy paths for stress, it
doesn't crack with time. There are many different possibilities. Some Super adobe buildings
have even been covered by living grass, a kind of Green roof but covering the entire structure.
Any exterior treatment and building details would need to be adapted to a region’s specific
climatic needs.

Fig 3.14 super adobe model

Dept. Of CE 14
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

CHAPTER 4

CONSIDERATIONS OF SUPER ADOBE

4.1. STRUCTURAL CONSIDERATIONS

Single- and double-curvature compression shells transfer their stresses along the surface
of the structure and not from element to element like column- and beam-type buildings.
When a single element in a beam and column Super adobe techniques enable the construction
of mono lithic structural systems built entirely from earth in curved forms. The sandbag,
because of its flexibility, allows the construction of 9 curved surfaces. When using single-
and double-curvature compression shells ie arch, vault, dome etc the majority of conventional
roofing systems can be eliminated. In the case of wood construction, this can save up to 95
percent of timber, allowing not only for forest products to be more wisely utilized but also
resulting in fire-safe buildings. By working with the principle of gravity, these features can be
built without special form work. The success of the tested prototypes for California’s seismic
codes and the resulting permits derive from the following principles:

construction is overloaded to failure, the loss of that element will create a cascading
effect on adjacent elements, causing failure of all elements in the vicinity. In many cases, this
will cause the entire structure to collapse, as was witnessed in earthquakes in North ridge,
California, and Kobe, Japan. Such a structure is only as strong as its weakest element. In a
dome, and to a lesser degree a vault, excessive loads on their surface will first cause a
puncture failure. This results in the excessive load being shed with only localized damage;
the remaining stresses in the vicinity of the failure are transmitted around the failed area, and
other loads continue to be held by the structure without any problem.

Dead-load and live-load stresses are transferred to the supporting ground, spreading
uniformly along the perimeter of a dome or bearing wall. In a beam and column structure, the
loads are concentrated and transferred to the ground via a footing under each column. This
situation creates the two basic structural problems of differential settlement and frost heaving.

Dept. Of CE 15
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

These can cause severe localized stresses within the upper structure, resulting in cracking and
other failures. For this reason, most foundations are extended to below the frost line to
minimize such problems. In a monolithic bearing wall, dome or vault, differential settlement
and frost heaving do not pose severe problems. The base of a dome or bearing wall
distributes the load of the structure over a much larger area, and local soft spots in the
supporting soil will not create a local problem, as local depressions may be easily spanned.
The effect of frost can be rendered negligible with correct design when a dome is free to float
on the ground.

One of the most significant advantages of a domed or vaulted bearing wall structure is its
performance in earthquakes. It is difficult to design conventional structures to withstand
earthquake stresses. Their basic shape creates a severe problem, as the building weight is
either uniformly spread from roof to foundation or, even worse, weights are often larger in
the upper floors. With this propensity for overturning, the deeply planted footings and
foundations rip apart at the very base of the structure during an earthquake, causing failures
rather than preventing them. Modern earthquake design that incorporates foundation isolation
does have shifting capabilities, but it is expensive.

A dome or bearing wall built on a floating foundation, the base isolated by a layer of
gravel or sand, provides the ideal earthquake-resistant structure. The continuous or ring
foundation can slide across the moving ground, while the upper structure, which diminishes
exponentially in mass toward the apex, performs as a unified monolithic piece, eliminating
local failure higher up the building.

Factors including the placement and condition of windows and doors, climatic zone, wall
color ,wall orientation, and particularly wall thickness. This twelve-hour delay is only
possible in walls greater than 12 inches (30 cm) thick.

Dept. Of CE 16
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

Fig 4.1.double curvature compression shell

Fig 4.2.Inside portion of a dome

4.2 THERMAL PERFORMANCE

Every material in a building has an insulation value that can be described as an R-value.
Most builders think of R-value as a description of the ability of a structure or material to
resist heat loss. This is a steady state value that doesn't change regardless of the outside
temperature variations that occur naturally on a daily and annual basis. This R-value can also
be expressed as the coefficient of heat transfer, or conductivity, or U-value, which is inversely

Dept. Of CE 17
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

proportional, that is U=1/R. From this simple formula we can see that material with a high
R-value will yield a low U-value. U-value (units of thermal radiation) measures a material's
ability to store and transfer heat, rather than resist its loss.

Earthen walls function as an absorbent mass that is able to store warmth and re-radiate it
back into the living space as the mass cools. This temperature fluctuation is known as the
“thermal flywheel effect.” The effect of the flywheel is a 12-hour delay in energy transfer
from exterior to interior. This means that at the hottest time of the day the inside of an earth
bag structure is at its coolest, while at the coolest time of the day the interior is at its warmest.
Of course this thermal performance is regulated by many factors including the placement and
condition of windows and doors, climatic zone, wall colour, wall orientation, and particularly
wall thickness. This twelve-hour delay is only possible in walls greater than 12 inches (30 cm)
thick.

4.3 EMERGENCY SHELTERS

According to Khalili's website, in emergency, impermanent shelters can be built using

only dirt with no cement or lime, and for the sake of speed of construction windows can be
punched out later due to the strength of the compressive nature of the dome/beehive.
Ordinary sand bags can also be used to form the dome if no Super adobe tubes can be
procured; this in fact was how the original design was developed. There is a great potential
for long-term emergency shelters with Super adobe because of the simplicity of construction.
Labour can be unskilled and high physical strength or formal training is unnecessary for the
workers, so women and children are able to substantially contribute to the construction
process. Local resources can be used with ease. Super adobe is not an exact art and similar
materials may be substituted if the most ideal ones are not readily available.

In an interview with an AIA (American Institute of Architects) representative, Nader

Khalili, super adobe’s founder and figurehead said this about the emergency shelter aspects of
Super adobe: “A 400-square-foot (37 m2) house, with bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and entry
I call it the Eco-Dome can be put up in about four weeks, by one skilled and four unskilled
people. Emergency shelters can go up much more quickly. After the Gulf War, the United
Dept. Of CE 18
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

Nations sent an architect here. We trained him, and he went to the Persian Gulf and put them
up with refugees as they arrived at the camps. Every five incoming refugees put up a simple
structure in five days. It's emergency shelter, but if you cover it with waterproofing and
stucco, it will last for 30 or more years.”

4.4. SERVICEABILITYCONSIDERATIONS

The floor of a Super adobe building is usually finished last so that plumbing and
electrical lines can be run underneath to feed branches that extend upward where needed.
Plumbing pipes are placed on, in, or under the lower Super adobe layers and run vertically
through small channels cut in to the walls. Electrical lines are run through flexible conduit
that follows the contours of the bags.

4.5.ANALYSIS
In order to discuss the system’s energy sufficient characters, it can be analyzed from
aspects of ventilation, lighting and insulation. The prototype be chosen is a single adobe. First
of all, the dome roof has better ventilation effect than the flat one when they share the same
inner wall length . when the model has been overlap together, the height from roof windows
to the floor certifies that dome roof has accelerated the air fluent better because it forms a
Stack effect

Fig 4.3 (a) Dome roof ventilation. (b) Flat roof ventilation (c) The different height
from roof windows to floor with the same inner wall length

Dept. Of CE 19
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

Designing comfortable homes without extensive energy use or associated cost for people
in freezing temperatures is essential to the earth bag village.

Every material in a building has an insulation value that can be described as an R-value.
Most builders think of R-value as a description of the ability of a structure or material to
resist heat loss. This steady state value does not change regardless of the outside temperature
variations that occur naturally on a daily and annual basis [8-10]. So why does an earth bag
structure (or any massive earthen building for that matter) with an R-value less than 0.25 per
inch (2.5 cm) feel cool in the summer and warm in the winter? Because this R-value can also
be expressed as the coefficient of heat transfer, or conductivity, or U-value, which is inversely
proportional, that is U=1/R. From this simple formula we can see that material with a high
R-value will yield a low U-value. U-value (units of thermal radiation) measures a material's
ability to store and transfer heat, rather than resist its loss. Earthen walls function as an
absorbent mass that is able to store warmth and re-radiate it back into the living space as the
mass cools. This temperature fluctuation is known as the “thermal flywheel effect.” The
effect of the flywheel is a 12-hour delay in energy transfer from exterior to interior. This
means that at the hottest time of the day the inside of an earth bag structure is at its coolest,
while at the coolest time of the day the interior is at its warmest. Of course, this thermal
performance is regulated by many factors including the placement and condition of windows
and doors, climatic zone, wall colour, wall orientation, and particularly wall thickness. This
twelve-hour delay is only possible in walls greater than 12 inches (30 cm) thick.

Thermal lag is a time unit assigned to a material that indicates the amount of time it takes
to heat up or cool down. Thermal mass is the material heated or cooled. Heating a material
(and its effectiveness as thermal mass) depends on how much heat it can absorb (Specific
Heat: Cp), the rate at which the heat can penetrate (thermal conductivity: k), the density of
the material in question (density: ρ), and the thickness of the material [8-13]. The time that
passes from heating one side to the other side heating up too is the “thermal lag” expressed
by: Equation

Thermal lag =1.38 *(thickness ,m)*√((cp*ρ)/k)

Dept. Of CE 20
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

This means that when domes experience cyclical temperatures (day and night, seasonal)
the temperature inside the domes lags behind. The issue with earth bags is that they provide
fantastic thermal mass (Figure 17) but truly are not a great insulator. The R-value of
compacted earth is roughly R-1 per foot, so a standard earth bag wall might yield no better
than R-2 (about the equivalent of a dual-pane glass window). Their insulating properties can
be improved by adding materials that create air pockets inside them like volcanic rock, rice
hulls, per-lite, or vermiculite. This, however, has positive and negative elements.

Table 4.1. Comparison of Material

Material R-R-value/inch R-value/15″

Rice hull R-3 R-45

Per-lite R-2.7 R-40

Vermiculite R-2.13 R-32 to 36

Extruded polystyrene R-3.6 to R-4.7 R-54 to R-70

Molded low-density polystyrene R-3.85 R-58

Fig 4.4 Thermal Lag Calculation

Dept. Of CE 21
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

Simple thermal dynamics state that heat travels from warm spaces inhibit this heat
transfer. If the goal is keeping heat in, inhibiting the transfer of heat through walls can be
very good. The more you add air pockets or insulate the walls, the less heat will move
through those walls [13, 18]. The downside of this is in the summer when heat being
absorbed by the walls would have a cooling affect that would be lessened by this reduction of
heat transfer. Here are the calculations used for a dome-shaped structure (Figure 4.5).

Fig 4.5 (a) Assuming the walls are essentially a hollow cylinder. (b)Assuming the roof is
essentially a semi-sphere. (c) Assuming the floor is essentially an unbounded plane

Suggestions and options on what is the best approach vary and can be affected
dramatically based on the building environment. For areas that are consistently cold, with a
quality internal heating system, a person would do well with a solid earth-filled earth bag
wall that has an external insulating layer [13, 15, 18]. This would provide thermal mass on
the inside and a barrier to that thermal mass losing its heat to the outside. In areas that are
consistently hot, however, this external insulation approach could create environments that
warm up and are difficult to cool again, so building deeper in the ground and eliminating
insulation is a better approach.

Dept. Of CE 22
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

CHAPTER 5

MERITS &DEMERITS OF SUPERADOBE

5.1ADVANTAGES

 Earthquake safe
Super adobe structure is safe against earthquake

Fig 5.1: Earthquake resistance

 Fire proof

During some of fire storms where hundreds of homes were destroyed due to
combustible materials used in the building envelope. The only way to resist being
burned is to be “non flammable”, earth is such a material.

Fig 5.2: Fireproof resistance

 Wind proof

Wind is a very powerful force that travels in a path it chooses. As wind travels it tends to

Dept. Of CE 23
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

build force and get stronger and more powerful and relentless. A super adobe dome and
vault shape for use as homes or shelter has much to offer when it comes to wind forces.

 User friendly

The technology and form is easy to understand and follow. Our brain is not
overwhelmed by the idea of shelter. When people look at the dome and vault structure
because of the “simplicity” can embrace it without getting lost in the concept of how it
was built. The application and erection of new homes will be welcome in any region or
country it is placed. It will provide many people with new jobs and give them the ability
to be involved building something permanent and needed using the “greenest of the
green technologies available today”.

 Easy to learn

Those involved in learning how to build with it, will be very happy knowing that they
can build a home for others made of earth and that the building they are building will be
there for generations to come.

5.2 DISADVANTAGES

 It does take a lot of people to build a house by hands only.

 It gets difficult after several hours of lifting the heavy bags.
 It isn’t easy to understand at first when you look at the way it is being built.
 It takes strength to lift and carry each bucket.
 It’s hard on your back, feet and hands
 If you are not used to work physically you will be tired sooner.

5.3 UNIVERSAL APPLICATIONS

Modern computer software now allows for structural design analysis on an individual
basis. The computer will also permit the utilization of the Super adobe systems in space and
planetary construction based on performance programs, such as finite element analysis. The
construction of infrastructures, structures and shielding elements, such as for thermal,

Dept. Of CE 24
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

radiation and/or impact shielding on the moon and Mars, would otherwise imply costly
transportation of building materials into outer space. The utilization of in-situ, minimally
processed materials, is crucial to space exploration.

Flood control; erosion control; stabilization of waters' edges, hillside slopes and
embankments; and retaining walls, landscapes, and infrastructures are applications in which
the Sandbag/Super adobe/Super block system has shown great potential.

Individuals are enabled once again to build their own homes without the use of heavy
equipment, with materials native to the country of use. All the skills required are simple and
can be acquired by anyone who wishes to learn them. The Super adobe system can use
existing contractor’s machinery, such as concrete and gunnite pumps, to mechanize the
packing of the fill material into the bag forms.

Dept. Of CE 25
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

CHAPTER 6

CONCLUSIONS

Super adobe is one of the inexpensive and environment friendly technology. It helps to
build the structures without the use of heavy equipment It only needs low energy input and is
resistant to extreme weather conditions. Building these type of structures helps to create a
green and healthy human culture with small waste production and low environmental
pollution.

In conclusion, Super adobe system is an economical, ecological and energy efficient

system. The scope of its application is dry and low density rural areas. Super adobe connects
the nature and tradition.It is inexpensive technology. Natural, reversible, recyclable building
materials are used which are not harmful to our health and the environment. It has low energy
input and causes very less environmental pollution. Small waste production is there. It is
environmentally friendly. It is statically strong, durable, and resistant even to extreme
weather conditions and natural catastrophes like flood, windstorm, hurricane, fire, and
earthquake. It reduces global warming and Speedy in construction. It can provide a very
effective point of reference for our country construction in Bangladesh.

Dept. Of CE 26
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

REFERENCES

[1] Brooke Barnes, Mihyun Kang, and Huantian Cao,“Design of sustainable relief housing
in Ethiopia: an implementation of cradle to cradle design in earth bag construction”,
Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2006, Vol 5, pp. 137.

[2] Hunter, Kaki and Donald Kiffmeyer 2004 “ Earth bag Building Gabriola Island” BC:
New Society Publishers.

[3] L Elizabeth and C Adams 2005 ,”Alternative construction: contemporary natural

building methods” C Y Wu translate Perking Machinery industry press.

[4] J Z Teslik and N M Vodicková 2013 “Air-tightness and acoustic properties of

SuperAdobe system International Conference on Buildings and Environment
“ EnviBUILD 2 Trans Tech Publications.

[5] Kennedy J, M. Smith, & C. Wanek , “Building with earth bags”, journal of the art of
natural building, 2002, pp. 149-153.

[6] L M Surhone, M T Timpledon and S F Marseken, 2010, “Super Adobe, Beta script
Publishing”.

[7] Nader Khalili 2014 “Emergency Sandbag Shelter and Eco-Village Iliona Outram
New_earth UK Londan fine arts press Ltd”.

[8] The Green Building Program 2006 "Earth Construction" Sustainable Building
Sourcebook 14 Uk London Fine Arts Press Ltd.

[9] Paul G. Mc Henry(1989), “Adobe and Rammed Earth Buildings: Design and
Construction, The University of Arizona Press”.

[10] Piyush Sharma 2015 “International Journal of Research” (IJR) 2 12.

Dept. Of CE 27
Superadobe Seminar 2022 -23

[11] Rob Wainwright, “Building an earth bag dome”, The Owner Building (TOB), pp. 6-11,
February/March 2008.

[12] Ronald Rael (1971), “Earth Architecture, first edition, Princeton Architectural Press”.

[13] Stephen Holgate 2003 For “Architect Khalili, Rumi Inspires 21st Century Housing
Solutions”.

[14] T Katauskas 2007 “Dirt-Cheap Houses from Elemental Materials Architecture Week”.
New York Times, 15 April 1999.

[16] “What is super adobe?”, http://calearth.org/building-designs/what-is superadobe.html,

Accessed on 29-08-2011.

[17] Ziling Zhaoa Qi Lub and Xinbo Jiangc 2015 “Procedia Engineering” 121 1179 – 1185

Dept. Of CE 28