U.S.-India Planning Visit: Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Compressed Earth Block Structures

0946659福斯特寺该奖项支持早期职业研究员，芝加哥大学的克雷格福斯特博士和一名研究生的规划访问，以研究压缩土块（CEB）的力学行为。 他们将与班加罗尔印度科学研究所（IISc）的土木工程师Venkatarama Reddy博士合作，建立一个持续的实验和建模计划，以提高对CEB结构的理解和性能。 作为一种具有高热质量的低成本材料，CEB在发展中国家和美国的可持续发展社区中引起了兴趣;然而，关于这些材料的结构行为还有很多需要了解。 这项研究的优点包括提高了对压缩土块和砌体的理解。这种理解包括故障模式的知识，以及故障如何通过CEB结构系统进行。 其次，该程序将有助于发展裂缝扩展结构的数值技术。特别是，裂缝的传播，材料可能会失败，无论是在界面处或散装材料将进行探讨。最终，这一理解将应用于行政首长协调会结构的设计规范。 更广泛的影响这个项目将通过几种方式为社会创造更广泛的利益。一是通过设置视频设备，完善实验室设施。测试的数字影片可以被保存、重新检查并分发给地球仪的合作伙伴。分配是改善国际伙伴关系的一种方式。访问期间的沟通，材料的实际实验以及现场访问将有助于了解印度和美国的需求和方法，并将促进思想的交流。

0946659Foster Temple This award supports a planning visit for early career researcher, Dr. Craig Foster, University of Chicago and a graduate student to study the mechanical behavior of compressed earth block (CEB). They will collaborate with civil engineer, Dr. Venkatarama Reddy, Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc), Bangalore to establish an ongoing experimental and modeling program for improving the understanding and performance of CEB structures. As a low cost material with high thermal mass, CEB has gained interest in developing countries and in the US sustainability community; however, much remains to be understood about the structural behavior of these materials. Intellectual MeritsThe merits of this research include an improved understanding of compressed earth block and masonry in general. This understanding includes knowledge of failure modes, and how failure progresses through a CEB structural system. Secondly, the program will aid in the development of numerical techniques for structures with propagating fractures. In particular, the propagation of fractures where the material may fail either at an interface or in the bulk material will be explored. Eventually this understanding will be applied to design codes for CEB structures. Broader Impacts There are several ways in which this project will create broader benefits to society. First, by setting up video equipment, the laboratory facilities will be improved. Digital films of tests may be saved, reexamined, and distributed to partners across the globe. The distribution is one way in which international partnerships will be improved. The communications during the visit, the hands on experiments with the material, and the site visits will help build understanding of the needs and approaches in India and the U.S., and will foster cross-fertilization of ideas.