Energy Use and Thermal Performance of Rammed-Earth Materials

Abstract

The high rate of energy consumption in the building sector has led designers toward construction methods that consume less energy during construction through serviceability. One of these methods is rammed-earth (RE) structures due to the availability of its materials, ease of preparation, and considerable decrease in energy consumption and environmentally destructive consequences. Improving the thermal characteristics besides the mechanical parameters of RE structures develops the application of RE structures. In the current study, the dynamic thermal parameters of RE wall specimens were experimentally measured under simulated conditions and compared to those of masonry walls. Thereby, a hygrothermal chamber was designed and made, and Fourier’s law was used to determine the thermal conductivity of these materials. Moreover, the effect of the acrylic coating was investigated for increasing thermal mass and decreasing energy loss from the structural elements. The results illustrate the proper thermal performance of stabilized rammed-earth in comparison to the masonry materials besides the positive effects of acrylic coating, which leads to satisfactory thermal comfort limits based on the ASHRAE 55 standard.