Tepetate as Construction Material

Abstract

Tepetate is a common material in central Mexico, which is frequently used in the construction industry. It is extracted from natural sites and commercialized without alteration. In general, it is used to construct backfills. However, there is a lack of information regarding this material for the construction industry. In this research, the properties of tepetate as a material for construction (plasticity, permeability, and strength under compaction conditions) were obtained. According to the studies of tepetate, it exhibits a wide range of values for these properties, thus making it less reliable as a homogeneous material for construction. Additionally, it has very low strength as a construction material. It is recommended as a standard practice to perform studies on the material before its use in construction.