Structural Design of Affordable and Energy-Efficient Earth Masonry Dwellings for Tornado Wind Loads: Fid-Bau Portal

Structural Design of Affordable and Energy-Efficient Earth Masonry Dwellings for Tornado Wind Loads

Cuéllar-Azcárate, M. C. / Matta, F.

Stabilized earth masonry, which is made of compressed and stabilized earth blocks (CSEBs) and stabilized earth mortar, is emerging as a construction material that pairs sustainability with durability, energy efficiency, and extreme affordability. The appeal of CSEB masonry has prompted its use in numerous applications in developed countries ranging from modest to high-end houses. The availability and affordability of suitable soils in the US make CSEB masonry attractive also for high-quality dwellings in rural areas and farm lands where building with local materials becomes key to contain costs, reduce homelessness and create jobs. By engineering blocks and mortar combinations that maximize strength and deformability, it may also be possible to create dwelling structures that are capable of resisting extreme loads from natural hazards such as high winds and earthquakes. Prompted by the 2013 tragic events in Oklahoma and Illinois, this paper presents a proof-of-concept for the use of a prototype CSEB masonry in low-rise dwelling structures that can offer a safe shelter under extreme tornado winds. First, the prototype CSEB masonry, which is made with a widely available soil type in the US, and its salient mechanical properties are introduced. Second, the proof-of-concept is presented based on an analytical study aimed at understanding to what extent the prototype masonry is suitable for tornado-resistant dwelling structures. It is concluded that it is feasible to design one-story dwellings to resist severe tornado loads using the prototype CSEB masonry.