LOW COST BUILDING MATERIALS

1. SHEET NO.
INTRODUCTION TO LOW COST BUILDINGS1
cent in relation to the level of 1996 and by thatdate
two-thirds of the population will be living in developing
countries. Globally, the need for shelter and infrastructure
that such development create is shaping the patterns of
construction, and will continue to do so.
Construction industry is a major contributor to
socioeconomic development in every country. Its highly
multi-sectoral and dispersed character makes it difficult to
monitor, in quantifiable terms, the environmental
degradation it causes. Need is being increasingly felt to
forge public policy and private investment to facilitate
availability of materials and strengthen technology
delivery systems for achieving national goals of Housing
for All.
Common Problems Confronting Developing Countries
Rapid growth of population, urbanisation and industry in
most developing countries is exerting pressure on
construction industry to raise productivity and efficiency.
Demand of housing that is affordable and accessible to
poorer sections of society is compounding the problem
due to severe shortages of materials.
Traditional material manufacturing technologies require
high energy consumption and are leading to fast depletion
of natural resources of forests and agricultural top soil.
Technology is being increasingly seen by the
manufacturing sector as a tool to protect environment,
to enhance energy efficiency; to generate employment;
to upgrade skills and to alleviate poverty.
Developing countries in Asia, Africa & Latin America share
common problems of:
- severe shortage of affordable materials;
-
- management of wastes/residues from agriculture and
industry;
- lack of access to energy efficient and environmentfriendly
material manufacturing technologies;
- lack of employment opportunities leading to poverty;
- low productivity of manufacturing enterprises;
- lack of adaptable technologies based on local
resources of materials and manpower;
- lack of policy and institutional support for promoting
cost-effective technologies and investment in material
manufacturing sector.
Need of Alternate Building Materials
The demand for building materials has been continuously
rising with the increasing need for housing both in rural and
urban areas.
The resources used to manufacture construction materials
affect the environment by depleting natural resources, using
energy, and releasing pollutants to the land, water.
Commercial exploitation of traditional building materials by
various industries has aggravated the situation. It has,
therefore, become necessary to think over this problem
seriously and to provide some sustainable solution to make
the alternative materials available to solve the housing
problem.
SEM
SCALE
DATE 10 - 03 - 2018
1:500
COLLEGE
SUBJECT
CLASS
R.NO.
613 - LOW COST BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES.
SOUMITRA SMARTNAME
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU ENGINEERING COLLEGE, CIDCO, AURANGABAD.
20213220171703210006
M-ARCH - GENERAL
2nd
SEMESTER
List of Alternate Building Materials :
Hollow Concrete Block
Fly Ash Bricks
Rice Husk Ash
Ferrocement
Tire Veneer
Plastic Wood
Synthetic Fiber
Recycled Agg.
Fly Ash
Bamboo
Advantages over Conventional Materials :
1. Better functional efficiency
2. Cost effectiveness
3. Better durability
4. Ease of construction
5. Better finish
6. Minimum waste
7. Less maintenance cost
8. Minimum defects
9. Less energy intensive
Composites as Low Cost Building Materials
The composite building materials are made of composition of two
or more materials which have enhanced property. Natural fiber
materials are coming up as excellent substitutes for the prevailing
building materials. Fibers like jute, sisal coconut, ramie, banana
are cheap and environmentally suited as they are made from
natural fibers. They are also replacing the fiber reinforced plastics.
Composite building materials present immense opportunities to
replace traditional materials as timber, steel, aluminum and
concrete in buildings. They help in reduction of corrosion and their
low weight has been proved useful in many low stress
applications. Each type of composite has its own characteristic
properties and thus useful for specific purpose.
Jute fiber reinforced polypropylene composites, coir fiber
reinforced composites, sisal fiber and wollastonite jute pultruded
composites are a few to be named. CBRI has developed MDF
composite doors containing coir fiber, cashew nut, shell liquid
(CNSL) as natural resin and Paraformaldehyde as major
constituents.
Many composite building materials are generated from glass fibres
and industrial wastes. These materials are used for manufacturing
of portable toilets, water storage tanks, outdoor furniture,
bathtubs, interior decoration, basin, door, window frames etc.
Thus the application of composite building materials in
construction vary from cladding to internal furnishings and the
owner highly benefits due to their application because of their
light weight, resistance to corrosion and availability in different
colours.
Pultrusion is most cost effective method for producing composite
profiles. It is commercially applicable for light weight corrosion
free structures, electrical non conductive systems and so many
other functions.
The pultruded items are recognized and recommended in the
Global markets. Pultruded sections are well established alternative
to steel, wood and aluminium in developed countries and catching
fast in other parts of the world.
INTRODUCTION
Low cost construction refers to structures that are
inexpensive to build. IT doesn't mean that the houses will be
inexpensive to live in.
The goal of low-cost construction is to save money while
also maintaining buildings quality,Without sacrificing the strength,
performance and life of the structure.
Use of low cost building materials for construction of low
cost housing increases the access to buildings by low income
group peoples. Low cost housing can be achieved by use of
efficient planning and project management, low cost materials,
economical construction technologies and use of alternate
construction methods available.
The profit gained from use of such methods can decrease
the cost of construction and make the low cost housing accessible
to all. The use of low cost alternate building materials also
prevents the rise of construction cost due to use of scarce building
materials which eventually increase the cost of the project.
Following Properties Reduces Cost of Construction:
Locally available materials .
Improved skills and technology.
Factors affecting construction cost
Building Cost : The building construction cost can be divided
into two parts namely:Building material cost & Labor cost .
Size : The smaller the project in terms of scope or the
number of square feet, the more it will cost per square foot.
Type : Different types of project have different levels of
complexity and detail.
of the population was living below the poverty line and there is
huge demand for affordable housing.
The deficit in Urban housing is estimated at 18 million units
most of which are amongst the economically weaker sections of
the society. Some developers are developing low cost and
affordable housing for this population.
The Government of India has taken up various initiatives for
developing properties in low cost and affordable segment. They
have also looked at PPP model for development of these
properties.
'Government of haryana' launch its affordable housing policy
in 2013 This policy is intended to encourage the planning and
completion of "Group Housing Projects" wherein apartments of
"pre-defined size" are made available at "pre-defined rates" within
a "Targeted time-frame" as prescribed under the present policy to
ensure increased supply of "Affordable Housing" in the urban
areas of haryana.
Selection of Low Cost Building Materials for Low Cost Housing
The first step to low cost building material selection is to
select eco-friendly building materials. This also enhances the
sustainable design principle.
The life cycle of building is pre-building, building &
post-building stages. Each stage of building should be such
that they help conserve energy. These three stages indicate
flow of building materials through different stages of building.
Pre-building stage consists of manufacture which is
subdivided in processing, packing & transport. Building phase
mainly consists of construction, operation, maintenance &
disposal last the stage where material is recycled or reused.
Manufacturing of Low Cost Building Materials - Manufacturing
of building materials should be environment friendly. Efforts
should be made to study &revise the technologies for
producing good quality, efficient building materials &should
improve the waste generation during manufacturing. These
results in reduction of pollutants to environment.
Use of Recycled wastes as Low Cost Building Materials - The
wastes which can be recycled can &used in masonries
whilst as wooden wastes can be used in manufacture of
plywood or soft boards. (Courtesy-BMTPC)
Use of Natural Low Cost Building Materials - Total energy
required to produce material is called embodied energy. The
of non-renewable sources. It is therefore advantageous to use
materials or composite materials prepared from the wastages.
The natural materials such as stones, wood, lime, s&&bamboo
can be used in ample wherever possible. The natural
materials impact more sustainability to structures as well as
they are friendlier to environment.
Use of Local Building Materials - The use of local materials
reduces the dependence on transportation whose contribution
to the building material cost is high for long distance. Use of
locally available building materials not only reduces the
construction cost but also are suitable for the local
environmental conditions.
Using Energy Efficient Building Materials - Energy efficiently
of a building material can be measured through various
factors as its R value, shading coefficient, luminous efficiency
or fuel efficiency. Energy efficient materials must reduce the
amount of generated energy.
Use of Non-Toxic Building Materials - Use of toxic building
materials can significantly impact the health of construction
people &the occupants of the building. Thus it is advisable to
use the non-toxic building materials for construction.
There are several chemicals including formaldehyde, benzene,
ammonia, resins, chemicals in insulations, ply boards which
are present in furnishings &building material. The effect on
health of these toxic materials must be considered while their
selection &they should be used only where-ever required.
Higher air cycling is recommended while installation of
materials having volatile organic compound such as several
adhesives, paints, sealants, cleaners &so on.
Longevity, Durability &Maintenance of Building Materials The
use of durable construction materials does not only enhance
the life of the building but also reduces the cost of
maintenance. The lower maintenance costs naturally save a
lot of building operating cost. The materials used in building
determine the long term costs of an operating.
Recyclability &Reusability of Building Materials - A material
should be available in form which can be recyclable or
&producing newer materials. The scrap from steel can be used
to manufacture the rcc bars, binding covers &other
miscellaneous steel products in building construction.
Biodegradability - A material should be able to decompose
naturally when discarded. Natural materials or organic
materials would decompose very easily. It is also a very
important consideration whether a material decomposes
naturally or produces some toxic gases.

2. SEM
SCALE
DATE
SHEET NO.
10 - 03 - 2018
1:500
COLLEGE
SUBJECT
CLASS
R.NO.
613 - LOW COST BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES.
SOUMITRA SMARTNAME
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU ENGINEERING COLLEGE, CIDCO, AURANGABAD.
20213220171703210006
M-ARCH - GENERAL
2nd
SEMESTER
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BY VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS - BMTPC
4
The Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council
(BMTPC) was setup in 1990 as an inter-ministerial apex
organisation to bridge the gap between laboratory
development and large scale field application of innovative
materials and technologies and to facilitate production of
materials on commercial scale.
Emphasis was laid on environmental protection through use
of wastes, energy conservation, development of substitute
materials for scarce materials like wood etc, disaster
resistant construction technologies, and consequent social
advantages of cost reduction, energy conservation and
sustainable development strategies.
Objectives
To promote development, production, standardisation and
large-scale application of cost-effective innovative building
materials and construction technologies in housing and
building sector.
To promote manufacturing of new waste-based building
materials and components through technical support,
facilitating fiscal concessions and encouraging entrepreneurs
to set up production units in different urban and rural regions.
To develop and promote methodologies and technologies for
natural disaster mitigation, vulnerability & risk reduction and
retrofitting/ reconstruction of buildings and disaster resistant
planning of human settlements.
To provide support to professionals, construction agencies and
entrepreneurs in selection, evaluation, upscaling, design
engineering, skill-upgradation, and marketing for technology
transfer from lab to land in the area of building materials and
construction.
THRUST AREAS
Improving the policy environment for sustained growth of
costeffective building materials, production and availability.
Promotion of production units of building materials /
components based on Flyash, Redmud, Phosphogypsum,
agricultural residues and other wastes and by-products.
Modernization of small scale and village level building
materials production units in rural and urban areas.
Promoting economy in construction costs.
Formulation of standards for local building materials.
Strengthening industrial extension services for attracting
more investment in building materials sector by working with
national and international agencies.
Upscaling of technologies, know-how acquisition, absorption
and dissemination.
Assessing vulnerability and risk in natural disaster prone
areas.
Promoting disaster resistant construction technologies.
Global technology search and encouraging joint ventures in
building materials and construction sector.
Facilitating fiscal incentives like excise duty and custom duty
exemptions for waste-based building materials and
components.
Machines Developed/Promoted for Production of Prefab
Building Components
1. Alternate Station Hydraulic Brick Press (Model : AS-4/2)
2. Bi-Directional Vibro Press (Model : AS-189)
3. Bi-Directional Vibro Press (Model : AS-1818)
4. Bi-Directional Vibro Press (Model : AS-1824)
5. Solid/Hollow Concrete Block Machine (Egg laying Type)
(Model : CB-1)
6. Solid/Hollow Concrete Block Machine (Standing Type) (Model :
CB-2)
7. Concrete Block Machine (Sakar) (Model : CB-3)
8. Stationary Block Machine (Model : ASH-168)
9. Solid/Hollow Concrete Block Machine (Handheld Type) (Model
: SVC-1)
10. C-Brick Machine (Model : SL1)
11. Compressed Earth BlockMachine (Balram) (Model :MB-1)
12. Compressed Earth Block Machine (Mardini) (Model :MB-2)
13. Compressed Earth Block Machine (Hydraform)(Model:M-5)
14. Ferrocement Wall Panel Machine (Model : WP-1)
15. TNG Rural Housing Kit (Model : AS-1)
16. Ferrocement Roofing Channel Machine (Model : FCR-1)
17. Precast RCC Plank Casting Machine (Model : CP-1)
18. RCC Plank Casting Machine (Rotating Type) (Model : CP2)
19. Precast RCC Plank Casting Machine (Egg Laying Type)
(Model:CP-3)
20. Precast RCC Joist Casting Machine (Model : CJ-1)
21. RCC Joist Casting Machine (Egg laying Type) (Model : CJ-2)
22. Ferrocement C-Beam Machine (Model : FB-1)
23. Micro Concrete Roofing Tile Machine (Model : MCR-1)
24. Precast L-Panel Machine (Model : LP-1)
25. Terrazo/Chequered Tile Machine (Model : ASH-40)
26. Precast concrete Door/ Window Frame Machine(Model : CC-1)
27. Combination Machine (Model : LP-2)
28. Multipurpose Stone Processing Machine (Model SP-1)
29. Stone/Coal Disintegrator (Model : AS-1714)
30. Bar and Pipe Cutting Machine (Model : AS-12)
Support Services Offered
The Council with its extensive networking with various R&D
Institutions, Ministries/Government Departments,
Universities, Financial Institutions, Public Agencies, Business
Federations/Organizations and various International
organizations such as UNIDO, UNCHS, ADB, World Bank etc.,
strives to provide multifaceted support services to the various
stakeholders in the construction industry.
Support for identification and development of technologies
and building materials based on agricultural and industrial
wastes and promotion of proven technologies for rural and
urban housing construction.
Advise entrepreneurs in technology selection, prototype
development, commercial production and marketing and
extend appropriate support for training and
development/upgradation of process/technologies and
procuring equipment, etc.
Assist in arranging technology transfer from other countries
and selection and evaluation of foreign technologies.
Undertake Techno-Economic Feasibility Studies and
formulation of detailed Project Reports on innovative
energy-efficient building materials/ products and construction
systems.
Assist in capacity building and skill development through
training of village artisans, craftsmen and help in production
of simple building components using local materials, skills and
manpower and to coordinate with national, state and local
level institutions of periodic training and orientation courses
for professionals like engineers, architects, town planners,
contractors and construction managers for creating
confidence in use of new materials and technologies.
Evaluation, validation, certification and standardization of new
building materials and construction technologies through
Performance Appraisal Certification Scheme.
As a clearing house of technology transfer from lab to land,
through production and application and as repository of
information on all types of building materials including
conventional and newly developed, under development in
India and abroad.
Persuade Central and State Government agencies, housing
development and construction agencies and organizations in
private and community sectors for application of proven cost
effective and energy-efficient building materials and
construction technologies.
Rendering of design services on adoption and application of
innovative building materials and construction technologies in
the housing projects and slum development programmes of
Government, Public and Private agencies/bodies.
Undertake Rapid Damage Assessment Studies of the disaster
affected areas and to develop and promote disaster resistant
construction technologies.
Advise on vulnerability and risk assessment and on
formulation of relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation
programs for disaster mitigation and assist in capacity
building for disaster preparedness.
Recommend to Government for fiscal and other concessions
to be provided for promoting and scaling up new technologies
and building materials.
PROJECT PROFILE
Name of Scheme :
VAMBAY -Ministry of HUPA
Location of site :
Kalamna, Nagpur
No. of Units :
70 (Ground + 1)
Built-up of each unit :
181 sq.ft.
Unit consist of :
One room, kitchen space,
bath room and WC
Cost per unit : Rs. 50,000
Cost per sqft. : Rs.275/-
Nodal State Agency :
Nagpur Improvement Trust
TECHNOLOGIES /
SPECIFICATIONS
Foundation - Under
Rimmed Piles
Walling -
Solid / Hollow Blocks using
flyash/gypsum
RCC Tie and plinth band for
earthquake resistance.
Roof/Floor -
RCC Filler Slab using blocks
IPS flooring
Doors & Windows
Pre-cast RCC door frames
Ferrocement Door Shutters
for main door
Flyash polymer door
shutter for toilet
Cement jalli in Ventilators
Others
External cement plaster
Whitewash in internal walls
Waterproof cement paint
on external walls
The Scenario in India and the Role of BMTPC - From Lab to Land
Research institutions have developed a large number of
alternate materials and constructions systems, based on
utilisation of agro-industrial wastes which otherwise cause
severe environmental problems.
To improve the awareness about these innovative building
materials, and to facilitate their transfer from lab to land,
the Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council
(BMTPC) has been set up by the Government of India as an
inter-ministerial apex organisation, under the aegis of the
Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment. The Council
co-ordinates with various institutions involved in R&D,
finance, industrial promotion and housing to promote
innovative technologies, scale up proven technologies,
materials and products and facilitate establishment of
manufacturing/production units.
BMTPC's working strategy:
Promotion of sound design practices based on local materials
and cost effective, innovative technologies.
Promotion of building materials, components, products and
systems based on indigenous raw materials, agro-industrial
wastes and cost and energy efficient processes.
Quality improvement and cost reduction through
standardisation and adoption of modern information and
management systems.
Technical, financial, and fiscal policy support to enhance
production and marketability.
CASE STUDY -
BMTPC has been promoting cost-effective and
environment-friendly building materials and construction
techniques in different regions of the country. During
recent past, the Council has been laying emphasis on
putting up demonstration structures utilising
region-specific technologies. Such efforts for
demonstrating innovative technologies have created a
much better impact and helped in building up
confidence and acceptability in private and public
construction agencies, professionals and contractors etc.
Demonstration Housing Project at Nagpur, Maharashtra

3. SHEET NO.
AVD CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES5
Arch and Vault, a fundamental construction system in
architecture used to span the space between walls, piers, or
other supports and to create a roof or a ceiling.
Until the 19th century the arch and vault were the only
alternative to the far more limited and simpler post-and-lintel
system supporting a flat or peaked beamed roof.
Brief history -
The use of arch, vault and cupola building systems in construction can be
traced back to most ancient times.
As early as the 3rd millennium BC, they were very widely used in the
countries of the Middle East and Egypt.
Arches, vaults and cupolas were also fairly widely used by Roman,
Sassanid and Byzantine builders before being adopted in many regions of
Europe.
Very many applications also emerged in North Africa, the Sudan Sahel
belt of Africa, as well as in the northern regions of China. Many of these
countries still boast a rich heritage of this kind of building, both in urban
and in rural areas. In many cases, building them is still a living tradition,
well suited to modern popular housing needs.
Diversity
The numerous types of arches, vaults and cupolas allow a great variety of
architectural models. As a result, the technology can adapt to the most
varied climatic conditions: zones which are arid or rainy, cold or hot.
Although arches, vaults and cupolas are traditionally used to cover
limited spaces, they are perfectly well suited to build much larger spaces,
up to tens of meters. Thus they can meet the needs of any building
programme, public or private, low cost or quality housing, granaries,
warehouses, shops, schools, public, religious buildings, etc.
Recent projects
Forgotten by the formal building sector since the appearance of concrete,
arches, vaults and cupolas were rediscovered in the 40's by the Egyptian
architect, Hassan Fathy, who found inspiration in the popular Nubian
tradition for the design and construction of the village of New Gourna.
ARCH
An arch, in construction, is a rigid span curving upward between
two points of support. It appears in a variety of structures, such
as an arcade, formed by a row of arches, supported by
load-bearing arches or a roof or a bridge, or as a single,
freestanding triumphal or memorial arch. The traditional stone or
brick arch, formed of many segments held in place by lateral
thrust, was developed to connect a greater distance between two
supports than a single horizontal beam, or lintel, could bridge.
Since the 19th century, arches have also been made of single,
curved spans of iron, steel, or reinforced concrete.
The masonry arch has many elements. Its supports may be walls,
piers, or columns, and the capstones from which it springs are
known as imposts. The upper part of the arch is the crown, the
portions near the impost are the haunches, its wedge-shaped
segments are voussoirs, and the central or crowning voussoir is
the keystone. The inner edge of the arch is the intrados; the outer
edge, the extrados; and the undersurface, the soffit. The molded
band that often is found around the opening of the arch is the
archivolt. The wall spaces on either side of an arch, or between
adjacent arches, are spandrels. If the space between the arch and
the lintel is filled in, the resulting flat surface is the tympanum.
Arches have been built since prehistoric times. Rude prototypes
were made by leaning two slabs of rock together or by
constructing a stepped, or corbeled, arch in which projecting
elements from a wall rise in steps from the supports to meet in
the center. The Egyptians, Babylonians, and Greeks used the arch,
generally for secular structures, such as storerooms and sewers.
The Assyrians built palaces with arched ceilings, and the Etruscans
used arches in bridges, passageways, and gates. The Romans,
however, were the first to develop the arch on a massive scale.
They used the semicircular arch freely in secular structures such
as amphitheaters, palaces, and aqueducts, but their temples
usually had the post-and-lintel construction of Greek temples. The
few vaulted exceptions, however, include the Pantheon in Rome.
During the Middle Ages, Byzantine architecture in the East and
Romanesque architecture in the West retained the characteristic
round Roman arch. Islamic architects developed a rich variety of
pointed, scalloped, horseshoe, and ogee (S-curve) arches for
mosques and palaces. In Moorish Spain, horseshoe arches were
set on delicate columns, giving a characteristic airy effect. Gothic
architecture in Western Europe was characterized by the pointed
arch, which minimized outward thrust and thus made possible
higher, thinner, window-filled walls, creating the lofty, spacious
interiors of Gothic cathedrals. In the 20th century, arches of
molded reinforced concrete based on the curve of a parabola have
been used in all sorts of public structures.
A vault, in architecture, is an arch-shaped structure, usually of
masonry, used as the ceiling of a room or other enclosed space,
as the roof of a building, or as the support for a ceiling or roof.
Masonry vaults are usually composed of wedge-shaped pieces
called voussoirs, which are held in place, like the stones of an
arch, by the pressure of the neighboring pieces. Because of the
combined pressure of its components, any arch exerts an outward
pressure at its base, and the base, therefore, must be so
constructed as to withstand the outward as well as the downward
thrust of the arch. This construction can be accomplished by using
strong, heavy walls to support the arch or by supporting the walls
with exterior structures, or buttresses. A temporary supporting
structure must be erected within the vaulted area during
construction, because a masonry vault does not become
self-supporting until the central voussoirs or keystones are put in
place.
A number of different types of vaults are used architecturally. The
simplest of these is the barrel, or tunnel, vault, the roof of which
is shaped like half a cylinder and is supported by straight walls.
The annular vault is similar to the barrel vault, except that the
passage within it is not straight but curved, giving the entire
structure the appearance of a portion of a ring. A groined vault is
formed by the intersection of two vaults of the barrel type, usually
at right angles to each other. The junctures at which the two
vaults meet are elliptical ridges, called groins. In the simplest
form of groined vault, the two conjoined vaults are of the same
size and the floor of the vault is square; if the vaults are of
different sizes, however, the floor of the vault is rectangular and
the two areas of the ceiling between the groins are of unequal
shape and size.
Project of the architect Hassan Fathy, villa at Fayoum, Egypt, 1984
DOMES
Domes are obtained by rotating an arch, except for faceted domes
which more closely resemble the dominical vault. A dome can be
semi-circular, segmental, ogival, conical, etc. domes are circular
in plan. They can, however, be used to cover square or
rectangular rooms by using pendentives or squinches. Domes on
pendentives can be used to cover any kind of polygonal shape in
plan. It is possible to combine several domes or to combine
domes with vaults.
A dome is a spherical vault resting on a circular base wall.
Pendentives are portions of spherical vaults, or spherical triangles,
placed in the corners of square or other polygonal structures to
form a circular base for a dome above. More complicated vaults
include ribbed vaults, in which the inner vault surface is
subdivided by a number of independent supporting arches, or ribs.
A further refinement is the fan vault, most common in English late
Gothic structures, in which the ribs are multiplied and grouped in
the shape of an open fan.
A VAULT
ADVANTAGES OF ARCHES, VAULTS AND CUPOLAS
The materials used for the construction of arches, vaults and cupolas can be the same as those used for walls and can be found or
produced locally.
There is no use of wood, which also totally eliminates the risks of fire. The massive nature of these structures provides good heats to
rage capacity and delay in heat transmission, meeting comfort requirements, especially in dry climate regions. This mass also gives
good sound insulation.
SUITABILITY
Arches, vaults and cupolas can often provide a good solution for covering all kinds of buildings of all sizes.
However, their acceptability and suitability to genuine needs and local climatic conditions cannot always be taken for granted.
To ensure that structures are well designed and well built, specialized training must be given at all levels: design, engineering and
construction.
Preliminary surveys are required.
LIMITATIONS OF USE
Some local conditions can limit the benefits of building with arches, vaults and cupolas: rejection by the inhabitants for cultural
reasons, high cost of labor, high cost of suitable building materials, and use in earthquake areas requires special care, lack of
building norms.
The technology must be adjusted to a given context and the techniques must be mastered, to warrant the advantages of using
arches, vaults and cupolas.
SEM
SCALE
DATE 10 - 03 - 2018
1:500
COLLEGE
SUBJECT
CLASS
R.NO.
613 - LOW COST BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES.
SOUMITRA SMARTNAME
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU ENGINEERING COLLEGE, CIDCO, AURANGABAD.
20213220171703210006
M-ARCH - GENERAL
2nd
SEMESTER

4. SHEET NO.
AVD construction details with compressed stabilized earth blocks
These blocks must have been well cured for 1 month and left
for drying for 3 more months.
The reason is that earth blocks, even stabilized ones, always
shrink because of clay in the soil. This time period is essential
to allow the blocks to shrink fully.
If this requirement is not followed and the blocks are used too
early, they will shrink in the vaulted structures. Thus they will
create tension in the masonry and the latter will crack.
One should know that arches always tend to crack, even if
they are well built. The reason is that the arch has a different
behaviour than the masonry above it, and the line of thrust
changes when the arch is loaded.
Compressed stabilised earth blocks used for building AVD
should have a very accurate and regular thickness.
The Auram Press 3000 allows accuracy within 0.5 mm for the
block thickness, from corner to corner and from block to block
It is essential to control regularly their thickness during the
production process.
SEM
SCALE
DATE 10 - 03 - 2018
1:500
COLLEGE
SUBJECT
CLASS
R.NO.
613 - LOW COST BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES.
SOUMITRA SMARTNAME
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU ENGINEERING COLLEGE, CIDCO, AURANGABAD.
20213220171703210006
M-ARCH - GENERAL
2nd
SEMESTER
NUBIAN TECHNIQUE
This technique came from Nubia, in the south of Egypt, hence
the name Nubian.
It has been used since ages, as is testified the vaults of the
granaries of the Ramasseum at Gourna, Egypt, which was
built during the XIXth Dynasty, around 1300 BC .
The Nubian technique was revived and disseminated by the
Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy.
The Nubian technique traditionally needs a back wall to stick
the blocks onto. The vault was built arch after arch and therefore
the courses were laid almost vertically. The binder, about 1-1.5
cm thick, was the silty-clayey soil from the Nile and the blocks
used were adobes, the sun dried bricks. The unevenness of the
adobes made it necessary to slightly incline the courses, so as to
increase the adhesion by force of gravity. The basis of this
technique is that the blocks adhere to each other with earth glue.
The principle is that the dry block sucks by capillarity the water
along with the clay of the glue which will bind the blocks. It is
essential that the blocks are very thin, so as to have a high ratio
thinner the block is, the better will be the adhesion.
The Nubian technique was also used for building circular
domes, using a compass, as is shown hereafter. This technique
has the advantage of allowing one to build vaults and domes
without centring. This technique with vertical courses has a major
disadvantage, which is that the earth glue is very liquid and the
blocks are very thin. Therefore the shrinkage of the glue is
important and it induces cracks, especially in vaults.
When compressed stabilised earth blocks are used to build
vaults using this technique, the course can be
absolutely vertical as it is not needed any more to incline the
courses for the adhesion. The even regularity of CSEB produced
by the Auram press 3000 allows building with a cement-stabilised
earth glue of only 1-2 mm in thickness.
The Nubian technique has been developed by the Auroville Earth
Institute to build other types of vaults, such as cloister and
groined domes, and has evolved towards the Free Spanning
technique.
Starting the inclined course first course
fourth course Building arch after arch
Shaping the curve onto the adobe wall
FREE SPANNING TECHNIQUE
The free spanning technique is a development of the Nubian
technique. It allows courses to be laid horizontally.
This technique combines also the use of vertical courses, like
in the Nubian technique.
Depending on the shape of vaults, structures are built either
with horizontal courses, vertical ones or a combination of
both.
The basis of the technique with horizontal courses is not
anymore the adhesion of the blocks by the earth glue, but the
equilibrium of gravity forces of the various courses, and their
transfer onto the next courses and the masonry in general.
It is essential to study the location of the centers of gravity so
that the weight of the masonry never goes beyond the
springers. It is needed also to develop a certain sense of how
the forces behave in the masonry.
The transfer of loads always takes the shape of catenary
curves, and assumes the most direct way.
The vault rises with horizontal courses
Building a semicircular vault of 6m span
The vault, being built with horizontal courses, rises like a
corbel which is curved and has courses inclined at the
same angle as the radius of the curve.
12. Wedge the keystone with stone chips
9. Pour water on the
keystone
10. Apply glue on the 4
laying faces
11. Insert the keystone
7. Wedge the block with stone chips 8. Grind the keystone to adjust its thickness
5. Insert the block. Note the
mortar on the sides
6. Adjust the block by sliding it
vertically
3. Grind a block to adjust its length 4. Apply 2-3 mm of glue on the block
1. Start the vault on both sides 2. Check the linearity of the last course
CONSTRUCTION OF VAULT WITH FREE SPANNING TECHNIQUE
AVD CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES5.1

5. SEM
SCALE
DATE
SHEET NO.
10 - 03 - 2018
1:500
COLLEGE
SUBJECT
CLASS
R.NO.
613 - LOW COST BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES.
SOUMITRA SMARTNAME
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU ENGINEERING COLLEGE, CIDCO, AURANGABAD.
20213220171703210006
M-ARCH - GENERAL
2nd
SEMESTER
BAMBOO ARCHITECTURE
6
Bamboo is a perennial grass and not a tree as is commonly
perceived.
Bamboo, like true wood, is a natural composite material with
a high strength-to-weight ratio useful for structures.
Bamboo has a higher compressive strength than wood, brick
or concrete and good tensile strength and low weight.
The strongest part of a bamboo stalk is its node, where
branching occurs.
They are renewable and extremely versatile resource with
multi-purpose usage.
It has been one of the most used building material as support
for concrete, especially in those locations where it is found in
abundance.
Bamboo has been in wide usage since ancient times as a
low-cost material for houses, bridges etc.
Recently started appearing in designer homes as flooring,
walling and paneling material
Is viewed as a material preferred only by the poor or for
temporary constructions
Unpopular in conventional construction due to low durability,
lack of structural design data, exclusion from building codes
etc.
1450 species are found in diverse climates across the world,
however, not all of these are suitable for construction.
One of the fastest growing plants on Earth. Its growth rate
ranges from 30cm to 1 m in 24 hours.
Bamboo as a building material is conventionally associated
with the region of Southeast Asia and South America where
climate is best suitable for its cultivation.
Among many uses of bamboo, Housing is one of the major
areas applications especially in the wake of residential
shortages around the globe.
Bamboo for Foundations
There is very limited use of bamboo as foundation material
because when in contact with moisture laden surface they decay
fast. However, this issue can be tackled to quite an extent though
proper treatment using appropriate chemicals.
The various types of foundations constructed with bamboo are:
Bamboo which is in direct contact with ground surface.
Bamboo fixed to rock or preformed concrete footings
Composite bamboo or concrete columns
Bamboo piles
Bamboos are used in various shapes and forms to build
foundation. Some of the common shapes of bamboos are:
Flattened bamboo shape which is acquired by splitting freshly
cut bamboo stalks and then rolling and flattening them.
Bamboo mats as thin as 5-6mm or 10-15mm in size are
woven according to design prerequisite. Phenolic resins are
used in structures employing bamboo mats.
Bamboo plastic composite is a pioneering technology in which
bamboo fiber as raw material is blended with plastic as the
core material. These mats are highly resistant to moisture and
structurally more stable.
Methods of Working on Bamboo
For a bamboo to be used as a building material, it must be worked
on to create desired shape, bend and length to be used for
structural or other purposes.
Following are the different works involved with use of bamboo:
Bamboo as a Building Material
Utilization of Bamboo for construction is achieved by a
structural frame technique which is related to same approach
applied in usual timber frame design and construction.
In the case bamboo, floor, walls and roof are interconnected
and often rely on the other for overall stability. Bamboo has
played a vital role in the growth of enterprises and the rural
transformation.
Bamboos are treated in
such a way that they
assume desired shapes
and structures while
they grow:
Squared cross-section
can be obtained by
compressing the
growing stalk of bamboo
within a square section.
Arch shapes of bamboo
can also be created by
compressing the
the desired shape. This
would cost lesser than it
would to get the same
form with normal
timber.
Curved and Flat shapes
of bamboo are achieved
through traditional
techniques like applying
heat and pressure.
Various Structural Shapes of Bamboo as a Building Material
Walls Construction with Bamboo as a Building Material
Bamboo is extensively used for construction of walls and
partitions.
Posts and beams are the main elements normally constructed
with bamboo provide structural framework for walls.
They positioned in a way to be able to withstand forces of
nature.
An infill is used between framing elements to add strength
and stability to the walls.
Roofing with Bamboo as a Building Material
Bamboo is one of the best roofing materials and provides
ample sturdiness to the structure.
It is a proven shield against forces of nature or animals and
are considerably light weighted which makes them easy to
install.
The bamboo roofs encompass purlins, rafters and trusses.
Scaffolding with Bamboo as a Building Material
Due to advantageous properties of bearing heavy load
bamboos are considered as one of the highly-endorsed
materials for scaffolding even for tall structures.
For the construction of scaffolding, cane extensions are
obtained by lashing cane ends using several ropes.
The ties are positioned in such a way that forces acting
vertically downwards lodge the nodes in the lashing.
This technique has immense significance since the joints can
be re-aligned in the right degree.
Advantages of Bamboo as a Building Material
Tensile strength: Bamboo has higher tensile strength than
steel because its fibers run axially.
Fire Resistance: Capability of bamboo to resist fire is very
high and it can withstand temperature up to 4000 C. This is
due to the presence of high value of silicate acid and water.
Elasticity: Bamboo is widely preferred in earthquake prone
regions due to its elastic features.
Weight of bamboo: Bamboos due to their low weight are
easily displaced or installed making it very easier for
transportation and construction.
Unlike other building materials like cement and asbestos,
bamboo poses no danger to health.
They are cost effective and easy to use.
They are especially in great demand in earthquake prone
areas.
Disadvantages of Bamboo
They require preservation
Shrinkage: Bamboo shrinks much greater than any other type
of timber especially when it loses water.
Durability: Bamboo should be sufficiently treated against
insect or fungus attack before being utilized for building
purposes.
Jointing: Despite prevalence of various techniques of jointing,
structural reliability of bamboo is questionable.
Is viewed as a material preferred only by the poor or for
temporary constructions
Unpopular in conventional construction due to low durability,
lack of structural design data, exclusion from building codes
etc.
Preservation of Bamboo
A thorough treatment of Bamboo is required to protect it
against insects and rot before it is put into use. Commonly a
mixture of Borax and Boric acid are utilized for this purpose.
Another procedure generally employed is to boil cut bamboo
to remove the starches that draw insects.
Splitting of Bamboo
The bamboo canes are split into halves
or quarter sections using a knife ideal
for the job and setting them apart by a
wedge. About four or eight segments
can be acquired which are used as
canes, strips or battens. Canes can be
peeled to make strings and ropes up to
the age of 18 months.
Shaping of Bamboo
Even though bamboos are naturally
circular in form but if they are grown in
a box of square shape they acquire a
shape as desired.
Bending of Bamboo
Bamboos can be bent while they are
freshly cut by heating them above the
retain this shape even after cooling and
drying off.

6. SHEET NO.
This low-cost housing project is situated in a flood-stricken region that
receives extreme temperatures year-round. meeting the basic residential
needs of a residential dwelling, the building will be assembled using
minimal components and bamboo module units. secured using anchors,
ties and solid connections, the structure will be strong enough to float in
floods. built with local materials such as bamboo, leaves and recycled oil
containers, the concept combines traditional architectural characteristics
to distinguish the exterior fabric. costing just under 2000USD per unit, the
plan allows for mass-production, and the ability for villagers to build
themselves.
SEM
SCALE
DATE 10 - 03 - 2018
1:500
COLLEGE
SUBJECT
CLASS
R.NO.
613 - LOW COST BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES.
SOUMITRA SMARTNAME
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU ENGINEERING COLLEGE, CIDCO, AURANGABAD.
20213220171703210006
M-ARCH - GENERAL
2nd
SEMESTER
6.1
BAMBOO LOW COST HOUSING FOR SIX MEMBER FAMILY
BAMBOO ARCHITECTURE

7. SEM
SCALE
DATE
SHEET NO.
10 - 03 - 2018
1:500
COLLEGE
SUBJECT
CLASS
R.NO.
613 - LOW COST BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES.
SOUMITRA SMARTNAME
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU ENGINEERING COLLEGE, CIDCO, AURANGABAD.
20213220171703210006
M-ARCH - GENERAL
2nd
SEMESTER
EARTH ARCHITECTURE7
Mud, a mixture of earth and water, is economical, practical,
functional and attractive. It is easy to work with, and it takes
decoration as well. Mud is especially useful in humid and hot
climates. Mud is a natural building material that is found in
abundance, especially where other building materials such as
bricks, stone or wood are scarce due to affordability and or
availability. The mud architecture is a great resource that focuses
on architecture constructed of mud brick, rammed earth,
compressed earth block and other methods of earthen
construction. The proliferation of concept to use mud and
improved techniques in order to raise the level of living in the
population is a very welcome idea. This can go a long way not
only in the form of changing the look of population centers, rural
as well as urban, but also in solving environmental problems and
problems related to energy and other finite resources.
Various reasons for using mud as a construction material is
described below:
Energy Consumption
In mud construction, minimum fossil fuel energy is consumed and
is naturally abundant throughout the world, where as in brick
construction fossil energy is consumed for manufacturing process
and transportation.
Recycling
Recycling of modern materials for building construction is
expensive. Recycling of soil does not need fossil fuel and labour
requirement is also less. The characteristic of recycled soil for
construction remains the same whereas in modern building
material it acquires inferior character after recycling.
Abundance
The abundance availability of soil in large areas helps the
economically weaker section of the society to afford the mud
construction. It is easily adaptable and the technology can be
transferred easily.
Housing demand
A huge deficit of housing demand in urban and rural areas linked
with limited resources on all fronts make it absolutely essential
that the housing solution have o be best effective, through optimal
and efficient use of all resources of land and building material.
MANIFESTATION OF MUD
Depending on the characteristics of the mud available,
availability of supporting materials and technology used,
different manifestations of mud are used. These include Adobe
or Sun-dried bricks, Cob, Rammed earth, Pressed brick,
Wattle and Daub etc.
Cob:
technique using hand formed lumps if earth mixed with sand
and straw. Cob is easy to learn and inexpensive to build. It
dries to hardness similar to lean concrete. This ancient
mining, nor depend on manufactured materials or power tools.
Cob is non-toxic and completely recyclable. Regular working
windows are embedded in the cob along with their lintels while
the layers are building up. If fixed window is needed we can
use any kind of glass embedded into the cob. Cob houses
have been known to last for centuries.
Adobe: Adobe is a natural building material made from sand,
clay, water and some kind of fibrous or organic material
(sticks, straw and or manure),which the builders shapes into
bricks using frames and dry in sun. Adobe buildings are
similar to cob and mud brick buildings. Adobe structures are
extremely durable, and account for some of the oldest existing
building in the world. In hot climates, compared with wooden
buildings offer significant advantage due to their greater
thermal mass, but they are known to be particularly
susceptible to earthquake damage. Buildings made up of
sun-dried earth are common in the West Asia, Northern Africa,
West Africa, South America, Spain, Eastern Europe and East
Anglia.
Rammed earth: Rammed earth is a technique used in the
building of walls using the raw materials of earth, chalk, lime
and gravel. It is an ancient building method that has seen a
revival in recent years as people seek more sustainable
building materials and natural building methods. Rammed
earth walls are simple to construct, incombustible to water
damage. Traditionally, rammed earth buildings are found in
every continent except Antartica, from the temperate and wet
regions of Northern Europe to semi-dry deserts, mountain
areas and the tropics.
Wattle and Daub : Wattle and daub is a building material
used for making walls, in which a woven lattice of wooden
strips called wattle is daubed with a sticky material usually
made of some combination of wet soil, clay, sand,animal dung
ang straw. It is an important construction material in many
parts of the world. The wattle is made by weaving thin
branches or slats between upright stakes . The wattle may be
made in place to form the whole of a wall. Daub is generally
created from a mixture of certain ingradients from three
categories: binders, aggregates and reinforcement. Binders
hold the mix together and can include clay, lime, chalk dust
and limestone dust. Aggregates give the mix its bulk and
dimensional stablity through mateials such as earth,sand,
crushed chalk and crushed stone.Reinforcement is provided by
staw hair, hay or other fiberous material and helps to hold mix
together as well as to control shrinkage and provide flexibility.
The daub may be mixed by hand or by treading either by
humans or livestock it is then applied to the wattle and
allowed to dry and oftenthen whitewashed to increase its
resistance to rain.
Compressed Earth Blocks: the soil, raw or stabilized , is
slightly moistened, poured into a steel press and then
compressed either with a manual or motorized press. It is
developed from traditional rammed earth. The input of soil
stabilization allowed building higher with thinner walls, which
have a much better compressive strength & water resistance.