Rammed earth from local materials of Kamphaeng Phet Province

Abstract

This study investigates the properties of rammed earth made from local materials in Kamphaeng Phet Province by
utilizing three types of waste materials: laterite from decorative applications, marble powder from the marble mining industry, and sugarcane bagasse ash from sugar factories. The cement-to-soil ratio was fxed at 1:5 with local materials. Samples were prepared to determine the optimum moisture content that yields the highest density for each type of rammed earth wall. Engineering properties including surface characteristics, density, water absorption, erosion resistance, and compressive strength were then tested. The results indicate that the optimum moisture content for rammed earth with laterite is 12.00%, producing a maximum density of 2.17 g/cm³. Rammed earth mixed with marble powder exhibited an optimum moisture content of 16.00%, with a maximum density of 1.86 g/cm³. Rammed earth mixed with sugarcane bagasse ash showed an optimum moisture content of 18.00%, with a maximum density of 1.49 g/cm³. Regarding physical properties, each type of rammed earth wall differed in color and weight: the laterite-based rammed earth exhibited a reddish-orange color and the highest weight, the marble powder mixture showed a brownish-white hue, and the sugarcane bagasse ash mixture was black, lightweight, and had the smoothest surface texture. In terms of compressive strength, the laterite rammed earth wall attained the highest strength of 70.50± 7.00 kg/cm², followed by the marble powder mixture at 38.50± 2.63 kg/cm², and the sugarcane bagasse ash mixture with the lowest strength at 22.50± 2.73 kg/cm². Nevertheless, the selection of rammed earth as an architectural building material remains dependent on preferences for naturalness, color, aesthetic appeal, and the unique charm of each material.