Earthquakes…
Following recent speculation about the resilience of earthen buildings in earthquakes, a statement from the International Scientific Committee on Earthen Architectural Heritage (ISCEAH) has been issued:
“The architecture of the past does not collapse simply because it is old or built using traditional materials.
Equally, modern architecture does not remain standing during an earthquake simply because it is new or built using more modern materials.”
Also here are a few papers (found on Google Scholar) looking at earthquakes and materials academically:
“...news programs focus on earth and ‘how it fails’ while cement is not subjected to such scrutiny, the use of concrete is not questioned.”
Plus a longer-form video from Peter Hickson in Australia:
“Earthquake testing on the shake table at UTS, Sydney, Australia shows how bamboo reinforced cob (earth building technique) and basic engineering principles offer safe, affordable homes able to withstand powerful earthquakes similar to the recent May 2015 Nepal earthquake.
Bamboo, straw and earth materials are available to everyone rich and poor alike. Whether building for best sustainable practice or out of basic necessity this system offers a way to help build out natural hazards like earthquakes, typhoons, cyclones and storm surge with the weight and strength of bamboo reinforced monolithic earth cob walls.
A model of a prototype tropical design and bamboo reinforced cob house developed for use in the Philippines was tested in simulation. The design and system can easily be adapted for other climates and natural hazards. The house has been built and tested in the field for nine years and tested and evaluated in the laboratory.
Maybe this bamboo reinforced cob system can help by offering safe, practical answers to those self-builders rebuilding their lives and homes after the recent disasters in the Philippines, Vanuatu and Nepal.
The system requires little money, locally available materials, simple hand tools, basic additional knowledge to support skills already known to those familiar with using earth and natural materials like stone, earth, mud brick, straw and bamboo in building.
It is often said that earthquakes don’t kill – buildings do. It is also true to generalise that materials don’t kill – it is how you use materials.
Anyone interested in learning more about the prototype low cost hazard resistant house for South East Asia is invited to visit www.earthbuildingsolutions.com.au website for further details in the open source section.”