STRAW CLAY AS BUILDING MATERIAL FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION IN LADAKH

Abstract

Humankind has used the earth as a building material from ancient to modern days. The technology and the economy of construction work have changed throughout history. The story of construction is the story of civilization. About 12000 years ago, humans began to settle into villages and cities. As culture grows, people need more permanent buildings. Hence ancient people developed most of our modern building materials, including binding materials, glass, bricks, tiles, etc. In the modern age, people use the earth as a primary building material for low-cost housing. These houses must provide comfort, warmth, and protection against weather conditions. HIAL is similarly constructing houses using straw clay, which is designed to absorb heat during the day and release it at night, providing warmth to the rooms during the harsh winters of Ladakh. These passive solar houses must be built with sufficient strength to resist vertical and lateral loads and extreme weather and climatic conditions. Various tests and analyses were performed to check this building's performance. The compressive strength and flexural strength of the straw-clay block were tested. The compressive strength of Adobe block, Concrete block was tested. Other tests, as per Indian standards, were performed on clay blocks. As per the New Zealand code, a weather resistance test was performed. The water penetration resistance of straw clay bricks is better than adobe blocks, and they can be used in high rainfall areas. The compressive strength of straw clay blocks is 0.6 MPa, and lime is used to increase the strength of these blocks. Seismic and Wind analysis of the building made with a combination of straw-clay, adobe, and concrete blocks was performed, and suggestions were provided. These blocks can be used as a sustainable building material in the Ladakh region for ground floor structures.