Considerações sobre a construção com terra e efeitos da correção granulométrica e da incorporação de cinzas de eucalipto e de fibras de coco em solo para a fabricação de adobe

Abstract

The vast array of vernacular constructive methodologies observed on the most adverse climatic and geographic circumstances promoted the proliferation of architecture constructions made out of raw earth on vast locations, responding to a varied range of structure and cultural demands throughout the human history. However, besides the secular character of this constructive practice, it’s practicality, economy and durability, it’s construction knowledge have been forgotten and left in the background, and conditioned to a soaring state of informalism since the dual process of urbanization and industrialization. In this context, the scientific investigation are proficuous to the initiative of modulating this conjuncture, disseminating important information and promoting this technology as another viable resource in the construction in general. In this study, the workability of the soil and it’s mechanical resilience were evaluated according to the additions of two different vegetable residues, which are characteristic of rural areas and are usually considered as wastes, the coconut fibers and the eucalypt ashes. Experiments of soil characterization, retrability and of capillarity absorption on one side, and of mechanical stresses such as compression and traction on the other, allowed to choose the mixture that showed the most compatible results with the brick manufacture, which were produced regarding the construction of a prototype of a grain silo. The results showed that the substitution of 20% in mass of soil for vegetables ashes provided a compression strength of 2,82 MPa, almost twice as strong as the result obtained by the prism made with the natural soil. The proposition of applying raw earth as a construction material for different purposes may aid the elucidation of the reasons that promoted the abandonment of a millenary technic, just as contribute for an illumination of the actual situation, making possible for the formation of a renewed perspective in what relates to the earth architecture and a wider propagation of its knowledge.