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Design Optimisation Strategies for Solid Rammed Earth Walls in Mediterranean Climates

Author

Listed:
  • Giada Giuffrida

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy)

  • Maurizio Detommaso

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy)

  • Francesco Nocera

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy)

  • Rosa Caponetto

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy)

Abstract

The renewed attention paid to raw earth construction in recent decades is linked to its undoubted sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and low embodied energy. In Italy, the use of raw earth as a construction material is limited by the lack of a technical reference standard and is penalised by the current energy legislation for its massive behaviour. Research experiences, especially transoceanic, on highly performative contemporary buildings made with natural materials show that raw earth can be used, together with different types of reinforcements, to create safe, earthquake-resistant, and thermally efficient buildings. On the basis of experimental data of an innovative fibre-reinforced rammed earth material, energy analyses are developed on a rammed earth building designed for a Mediterranean climate. The paper focuses on the influences that different design solutions, inspired by traditional bioclimatic strategies, and various optimised wall constructions have in the improvement of the energy performance of the abovementioned building. These considerations are furthermore compared with different design criteria aiming at minimising embodied carbon in base material choice, costs, and discomfort hours. Results have shown the effectiveness of using the combination of massive rammed earth walls, night cross ventilation, and overhangs for the reduction of energy demand for space cooling and the improvement of wellbeing. Finally, the parametric analysis of thermal insulation has highlighted the economic, environmental, and thermophysical optimal solutions for the rammed earth envelope.

Suggested Citation

  • Giada Giuffrida & Maurizio Detommaso & Francesco Nocera & Rosa Caponetto, 2021. "Design Optimisation Strategies for Solid Rammed Earth Walls in Mediterranean Climates," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-23, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:2:p:325-:d:477298
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maria-Mar Fernandez-Antolin & José Manuel del Río & Vincenzo Costanzo & Francesco Nocera & Roberto-Alonso Gonzalez-Lezcano, 2019. "Passive Design Strategies for Residential Buildings in Different Spanish Climate Zones," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-22, September.
    2. Francesco Nocera & Alessandro Lo Faro & Vincenzo Costanzo & Chiara Raciti, 2018. "Daylight Performance of Classrooms in a Mediterranean School Heritage Building," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Serrano, Susana & de Gracia, Alvaro & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2016. "Adaptation of rammed earth to modern construction systems: Comparative study of thermal behavior under summer conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 180-188.
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    5. Francesco Nocera & Rosa Caponetto & Giada Giuffrida & Maurizio Detommaso, 2020. "Energetic Retrofit Strategies for Traditional Sicilian Wine Cellars: A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.
    6. Giuffrida Giada & Rosa Caponetto & Francesco Nocera, 2019. "Hygrothermal Properties of Raw Earth Materials: A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-21, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Qinglong Gao & Tao Wu & Lei Liu & Yong Yao & Bin Jiang, 2022. "Prediction of Wall and Indoor Hygrothermal Properties of Rammed Earth Folk House in Northwest Sichuan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Monica C. M. Parlato & Simona M. C. Porto & Carmen Galán-Marín & Carlos Alberto Rivera-Gómez & Massimo Cuomo & Francesco Nocera, 2023. "Thermal Performance, Microstructure Analysis and Strength Characterisation of Agro-Waste Reinforced Soil Materials," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-20, July.
    3. Jerzy Górski & Anna Patrycja Nowak & Marek Kołłątaj, 2021. "Resilience of Raw-Earth Technology in the Climate of Middle Europe Based on Analysis of Experimental Building in Pasłęk in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-19, November.
    4. Giada Giuffrida & Rosa Caponetto & Francesco Nocera & Massimo Cuomo, 2021. "Prototyping of a Novel Rammed Earth Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, October.

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