TESTS ON THE ARCHITECTURE OF ADOBE IN CALABRIA

Resumen

This work on the constructive techniques for the buildings constructed in raw earth in the city of Lamezia Terme (CZ), has been completed with an experimental part, focused on the study of the mineralogical composition and the characterization (specific weight, granulometry, plasticity) of 8 bricks of earth withdrawn in different buildings of the centre part of the city. Two samples have been extracted from each brick and they have been subjected to a uniaxial test of compression. The result pointed out an heterogeneity of the behavior of the single sample, and low values of compression resistance. After these first experiments the samples have been kneaded to homogenize the preparation in comparison to the percentage of water of the mixture, to the compaction of the samples and the ageing. The results from this second cycle have shown a better resistance at the compression force, but still below average, and a good ductility already present in the preceding samples. Subsequently have been created two scale 1:8 models of an existing wall with the double purpose:

- to appraise the compression behavior of the masonry;

- to use traditional techniques and materials for the conservation of the mansory

The masonry has been submitted to two cycles of load,the first one with concentrated loads: to simulate the load of the attic that unloads through the girders on the brickwork; the second with a distributed load: to simulate the load of the upper masonry. Both cycles have produced lesions and limited collapses of small areas of the models. The intervention for the reparation was made through a particular technique (called “cuci-scuci”) that is based on unplug old deteriored bricks and insert some new in the most damaged parts,There was planned another intervention on the lesions consisted of injections of earth, aerial lime and water, elements that are already present in the traditional wall. The models after the reparation have been submitted to another distributed load bringing the brickwork to the collapse. From this test has emerged that the interventions of restoration with proper elements of the masonry, has had a positive result, the compression resistance after the restoration is improved around 1/3 in comparison to the initial resistance of the masonry. We can conclude that the masonries as the single bricks previously tested, despite a low compression resistance, and have a good ductile behavior.