Cob Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Recent building research literature demonstrates a renewed interest in the use of natural building materials for constructing mod-ern buildings. This paper considers earth (inorganic) and strawbale (organic) natural materials and their... more

Recent building research literature demonstrates a renewed interest in the use of natural building materials for constructing mod-ern buildings. This paper considers earth (inorganic) and strawbale (organic) natural materials and their respective methodologies to identify potential for application in mainstream construction in the United Kingdom. It identifies current barriers for their wider uptake, along with developments necessary to enhance opportunities for greater use in new-build construction.

An examination of exterior wall coatings and field trials

— Field research was conducted on the effects of different mulching materials on the yield of Quantity protein maize which include polythene sheet, dry grasses and control. The different mulching materials were tested on nine (9) ridges... more

— Field research was conducted on the effects of different mulching materials on the yield of Quantity protein maize which include polythene sheet, dry grasses and control. The different mulching materials were tested on nine (9) ridges each measuring 10m. The research was laid out in a completely randomized block design each treatment replicated three times. The parameters measured include weight of cobs, weight of 100grain, and total grain, there was no statistical difference in the weight cobs among all the treatments, similarly, there was also no statistical different in the weight of 100 grain. As far the weight of grain per 5m 2 there was a significant difference among the treatments with polythene sheet covered plots that have 0.25kg, however, the grass-mulched plots 0.16kg was statistically similar to the control plots 0.15kg. And finally for store weight observed per 5m 2 , polythene sheet covered plots were significantly higher than grass-mulched plots which are also significantly different to control plots with the values of 1.23kg, 1.21kg and 0.71kg respectively.

Construction materials needs to be low energy consuming and mud construction system is less energy consuming and very successful in different weather conditions. Cob is an old earth building method passed down through the millennia, Cob... more

Construction materials needs to be low energy consuming and mud construction system is less energy consuming and very successful in different weather conditions. Cob is an old earth building method passed down through the millennia, Cob is a sustainable earth building material with mud soil, coarse sand, straw and water are thoroughly combined and beaten together. This research aims to study the effect of some additives on physical properties (thermal conductivity and water content %) and mechanical property (compression strength) of Cob. These additives are: polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) grains, hooked end steel fibers (HESF), wood as sawdust (SDW) and goat hair fibers (GHF), with 2 and 4 % by weight as the percentages of additives. Results shows that (PMMA) improves the insulation of Cob to maximum values compared to other additives in both 2 and 4 % followed by (SDW) and (GHF) respectively. All additive materials improve the compressive strength of Cob but with different extents depending on the water content. (GHF) is the best material to improve the compressive strength of Cob followed by (HESF) and (PMMA) respectively while adding (SDW) will lead to reverse effect i.e. decreasing the compressive strength.

This work aims to improve the Compression strength of COB which used as a sustainable building materials by substituting certain percentage of COB with a number of low cost materials and materials' waste, the reinforcing materials are:... more

This work aims to improve the Compression strength of COB which used as a sustainable building materials by substituting certain percentage of COB with a number of low cost materials and materials' waste, the reinforcing materials are: polyethylene fibers, human hair, shredded packaged drinking water cups, glass waste, kibbled glass waste, steel, and gypsum. Soil strength is studied in addition to water content of the reinforced samples. Results show that Gypsum gives the highest compression strength value among all reinforcement used in this study and adding kibbled glass waste and packaged drinking water cup decreases the compression strength of COB.

Construction materials needs to be low energy consuming and mud construction system is less energy consuming and very successful in different weather conditions. Cob is an old earth building method passed down through the millennia, Cob... more

Construction materials needs to be low energy consuming and mud construction system is less energy consuming and very successful in different weather conditions. Cob is an old earth building method passed down through the millennia, Cob is a sustainable earth building material with mud soil, coarse sand, straw and water are thoroughly combined and beaten together. This research aims to study the effect of some additives on physical properties (thermal conductivity and water content %) and mechanical property (compression strength) of Cob. These additives are: polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) grains, hooked end steel fibers (HESF), wood as sawdust (SDW) and goat hair fibers (GHF), with 2 and 4 % by weight as the percentages of additives. Results shows that (PMMA) improves the insulation of Cob to maximum values compared to other additives in both 2 and 4 % followed by (SDW) and (GHF) respectively. All additive materials improve the compressive strength of Cob but with different extents depending on the water content. (GHF) is the best material to improve the compressive strength of Cob followed by (HESF) and (PMMA) respectively while adding (SDW) will lead to reverse effect i.e. decreasing the compressive strength.