Seismic Behaviour of Mud Brick Structures · 1/3 Population live in mud brick structures...

Seismic Behaviour of Mud Brick Structures

Third Year Research Project

Joseph Hardwick & Jonathan Little (3rd Year MEng Undergraduates)

Supervisor: Dr. Adam Crewe (University of Bristol)

Industry Mentor: Dr. Paul Jaquin (Ramboll)

Date back to 8000BC

Mud Brick Structures

Date back to 8000BC

1/3 World’s population live in earth brick structures

Distribution of earth structures follows seismic zones

Mud Brick Structures

Distribution of Earth Structures

Distribution of Seismic Zones

Distribution of Earth Structures

Distribution of Seismic Zones

Date back to 8000BC

1/3 Population live in mud brick structures

Distribution of earth structures follows seismic zones

Green technology

Mud Brick Structures

Earthquake Fatalities Adobe Buildings Collapsed People Displaced

El Salvador, 2001 1,100 150,000 1,600,000

Peru, 2001 81 25,000 36,000

Bam, 2003 26,000 85% 60,000

Current guidelines:•Current guidelines (e.g. Minke 2000) propose that masonry design guidelines can be adapted for earth buildings (Jaquin2010)•Based on little experimental evidence

Compare mud bricks with traditional clay fired bricks under seismic conditions.

Produce preliminary guidelines from results.

Project Objectives

ProgressMaterial properties

Compression tests

ProgressMaterial properties

Compression tests

GSA finite element analysis

ProgressGSA

ProgressMaterial properties

Compression tests

GSA finite element analysis

Shaking table tests•¼ scale model

MethodsWall construction

Base

Bricks

Fired Brick Wall

Fired Brick Wall

Fired Brick Wall

MethodsWall construction

ProgressShrinkage

MethodsWall construction

ProgressShaking table tests

ProgressData Analysis

From Small Steps to Giant LeapsBetter Guidelines

Better advice for field workers for future construction and disaster relief

Lives saved through safer construction

Improved safety – Improved Quality of Life?

Thank You

Any Questions?