Structural Behaviour of Plastered Straw Bale Assemblies Under Concentric and Eccentric Loading
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STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOUR OF PLASTERED STRAW BALE ASSEMBLIES UNDER CONCENTRIC AND ECCENTRIC LOADING by Stephen Peter Vardy A thesis submitted to the Department of Civil Engineering in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Queen’s University Kingston, Ontario, Canada (May, 2009) Copyright © Stephen Peter Vardy, 2009 The problems that exist in the world today cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them Albert Einstein This is the moment when we must come together to save this planet. Let us resolve that we will not leave our children a world where the oceans rise and famine spreads and terrible storms devastate our lands Barack Obama The solutions of tomorrow are not stashed behind the walls of bureaucracy or political halls. They are in the minds of engineers, designers, innovators, researchers, environmentalists, geographers and other spirited individuals Stuart Barea ii Abstract The use of plastered straw bale walls in residential construction is growing as builders and owners seek environmentally friendly alternatives to typical timber construction practices. Straw has excellent insulation properties and is an agricultural bi-product which is annually renewable, and is often considered a waste product of grain production. This thesis presents new models for predicting the compressive strength of plastered straw bale assemblies subjected to concentric and eccentric load. A constitutive model for lime-cement plaster is adapted from a stress-strain model for concrete, available in the literature. Twenty-two cylinder tests on plasters typically used for straw bale construction were used to verify the constitutive model. The models for plastered straw bale assemblies were verified by testing plastered straw bale assemblies under concentric and eccentric compressive loads. An innovative steel frame test jig was designed to facilitate fabrication and testing of the specimens. Using this jig, 18 specimens of height 0.33 m, 0.99 m, 1.05 m or 2.31 m were subjected to concentric or eccentric compressive load until failure. The experimental strengths of the assemblies ranged from 23 kN/m to 61 kN/m, depending on the eccentricity of the load, the plaster strength, and the plaster thickness. Results indicated that the specimen height did not significantly influence the strengths of the specimens. The models predicted the ultimate strength of the assemblies to be, on average, 6% less than the experimentally determined strengths, with a standard iii deviation of 13%. The models were also used to predict the theoretical ultimate strengths for a number of plastered straw bale wall assemblies described in the literature. The fabrication techniques for these specimens were more representative of conventional straw bale construction techniques, and it was found that the experimental results were 30% of the theoretical strengths for assemblies with plaster strength less than 10 MPa and 6% of the theoretical strengths for assemblies with plaster strength greater than 10 MPa. Thus, to account for construction imperfections and potential alternative failure mechanisms, a reduction factor of no more than 0.3 for plaster less than 10 MPa is suggested in order to predict the strength of plastered straw bale walls constructed using conventional construction techniques. The results presented herein provide support for the use of plastered straw bale walls in residential construction and indicate the applicability of models based on the compressive behaviour of lime-cement plaster for modelling the behaviour of plastered straw bale walls under eccentric and concentric compression. iv Acknowledgements I will remember my time at Queen’s University as an extremely positive experience, both academically, and socially. I am forever grateful for the unwavering support of the faculty and staff and the endless encouragement from family and friends. My time at Queen’s University has also been highlighted by the formation of friendships and relationships which will undoubtedly last a lifetime. While there are many people who have positively influenced my experience at Queen’s over the past nine years, I’d like to recognize some who have contributed significantly to my happiness and success. I would first like to thank my supervisor, whose open-mindedness and environmental conscience made this research program possible. Sincere thanks go to Dr. Colin MacDougall who provided me with invaluable guidance, support and advice which have not only contributed to the completion of this research, but which provided an enjoyable and successful environment for my introduction to research and education. I have thoroughly enjoyed my academic experiences at Queen’s University, and for this I am truly grateful. I would also like to thank Dr. Luke Bisby, whose encouragement and advice as both a mentor and a friend have influenced me, not only on an academic level, but also on a personal level. His dedication to learning, teaching, and research are nothing short of inspirational. Many thanks also go to the staff, faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students who have been essential to the completion of this research v program. Thanks go to Dr. Amir Fam, Dr. Mark Green, Dr. Dave Turcke, Dr. Andy Take, Fiona Froats, Maxine Wilson, Cathy Wagar, Paul Thrasher, Dave Tryon, Lloyd Rhymer, Jamie Escobar, Neil Porter, Mike Rakowski, Bryce Daigle, Lucio Amato, Colin Smith, Tim Tipping, Adam Shaw, and Brendan Taylor. I would also like to recognize Chris Magwood, a straw bale builder, whose dedication and creativity continue to contribute to the growing acceptance of straw bale construction. Chris and his team provided valuable advice, guidance and energy to the completion of this research program. I would like to thank: the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation for their financial support. I would like to thank all of my friends who supported me and encouraged me through my time at Queen’s University. Specifically I would like to thank J.C., S.D., J.H., S.S., T.B., S.R., A.T., M.B., M.R., C.S., B.H., J.B., A.W., A.D., A.L., A.B., K.P., M.R., and M.B. I know that these friendships will last a lifetime, and that the last 9 years are only the tip of the iceberg. My family I would like to thank for always being at my side, and for providing me with unconditional encouragement, support, and inspiration. I wish to thank Phil and Carolyn for their support and advice in all facets of life, and mom and dad for raising me to love education and science, and for teaching me the importance and meaning of happiness. Finally, I would like to thank my future wife Janet, whose patience and love have overpowered even the greatest challenges I have faced. For this unwavering dedication, patience and love I am truly grateful. vi Table of Contents Abstract..................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements................................................................................................... v Table of Contents .................................................................................................... vii List of Figures.......................................................................................................... xv List of Tables ........................................................................................................ xxiii Notation.................................................................................................................. xxv Chapter 1 : Introduction............................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background........................................................................................................ 1 1.2 History................................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Advantages........................................................................................................ 4 1.4 Concerns............................................................................................................ 6 1.5 Construction Practices and Constitutive Materials ............................................ 8 1.5.1 Construction Practices ................................................................................ 8 1.5.2 Description of Straw .................................................................................. 11 1.5.3 Plaster ....................................................................................................... 13 1.5.3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 13 1.5.3.2 Earthen Plaster ................................................................................... 13 1.5.3.3 Lime-Cement Plaster .......................................................................... 14 1.5.3.4 Summary............................................................................................. 15 1.6 Research Objectives........................................................................................ 15 1.7 Thesis Outline.................................................................................................. 17 Chapter 2 : Literature Review................................................................................. 22 2.1 Introduction .....................................................................................................