Seismic load-resisting capacity of plastered straw bale walls
Name
693570803-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
6.17 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
d8d1b2c8009c4de98049e5c070b2faeb
Author(s)
Hsiaw, Jennifer S. (Jennifer Sing-Yee)
Advisor(s)
Jerome J. Connor.
Date Issued
2010
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Straw bales have been incorporated into buildings for centuries, but only recently have they been explored in academic settings for their structural potential. Straw bale building is encountering a growing audience due to its social and economic benefits. Plastered and reinforced straw bale wall assemblies have been found comparable to wood frame construction in resisting vertical and lateral loads. A number of straw bale residences have been constructed in the highly seismic state of California, while recent efforts have expanded its presence to quake-prone areas in developing countries like Pakistan and China. As this is a burgeoning arena of research, only empirical tests have been conducted. This thesis introduces a computer simulation of a wall assembly under lateral loading, using two techniques: a multi-layer shell element and an equivalent compression strut frame in SAP2000. The models assume homogeneity, and based on the results, areas for improvement and further research are suggested.
Description
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2010.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 57-58).
Subjects
Civil and Environmental Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
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