Earthern construction as a tailored alternative to conventional carbon-intensive materials in construction

众所周知，混凝土和钢材等传统现代建筑材料会导致高水平的二氧化碳（CO2）排放;据估计，此类材料的建造和加工占全球CO2排放量的11%。土制建筑材料（ECM）通常被视为过时的，机械性能不足;虽然需要提高耐久性，但ECM的含碳量极低。据认为，这种材料的广泛应用可以导致总的隐含碳的水平降低，即，McAuliffe在所有生命周期阶段，从材料提取到报废处理。我希望我的博士学位的主要重点是ECM耐久性的改善，从而增加ECM作为现代主流建筑材料的可行性。虽然现有的土结构通常是单层建筑，但可以开发材料特性，以允许当代建筑，公路基础设施或土地再生等应用。我打算研究ECM的定制特性，进而确定最合适的应用。我的目标是进行从小型实验室规模的样本到全规模的试验。每项研究都应强调如何通过各种材料成分、添加剂或施工技术的影响来提高ECM的耐久性。耐久性和寿命是ECM广泛使用的关键问题。ECM的使用寿命10665199完全取决于外部因素，水引起的侵蚀是故障的主要原因。暴雨和高湿度水平的影响导致非饱和土壤变得更容易通过水力机械弱化侵蚀。所需的耐久性特性将随应用而变化;然而，所有外部应用都需要改进防水性。我建议进一步研究针对外部天气条件的耐久性（通过耐磨性，冻融性和防水性进行研究）以及老化的影响（使用加速老化和碳化技术进行检查），以确定如何提高弹性。为了促进循环经济，并保持对低碳材料和建筑工艺的关注，可以使用废弃产品。废物流可以包括但不限于建筑和挖掘废物、食物废物和工业废物。添加剂可以提供特定的材料增强;将研究废弃添加剂的类型和数量，以确保对ECM性能产生有益影响。例如，无毒油的疏水作用可以提高防水性，而磨碎的粒状高炉矿渣（钢铁工业的副产品）可以用来提高抗压强度和减少收缩。无害的挖掘废物通常被回收用于骨料或用于现场支护结构。挖掘废物通常包括ECM成分，如果废物材料被认为适合于土制建筑，则细砾石和土可以用作散装ECM成分。为了验证拟议ECM的碳效益，可以通过完成生命周期评估来量化前期和隐含碳。

Conventional, modern-day construction materials such as concrete and steel are known to result in high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions; it is estimated that the construction and processing of such materials contribute to 11% of global CO2 emissions. Earthen construction materials (ECMs) are often viewed as outdated and having inadequate mechanical properties; whilst improvements in durability are desired, ECMs have an extremely low embodied carbon. It is suggested that the widespread application of such materials can result in reduced levels of total embodied carbon, i.e., McAuliffe across all life cycle stages, from material extraction to end-of-life disposal.I would like the principal focus of my PhD to be the improvement of ECM durability, hence increasing the feasibility of ECMs as a modern-day, mainstream construction material. Although existing earthen structures are typically single-storey buildings, the material properties can be developed to allow for applications such as contemporary architecture, highways infrastructure or land regeneration. I intend to study tailored properties of ECMs and in turn, identify the most suitable applications. I aim to carry out trials ranging from small, laboratory-sized samples to full scale. Each study shall highlight how ECM durability can be improved through the impact of various material constituents, additives, or construction techniques.Durability and thus, longevity are key concerns with the widespread usage of ECMs. The longevity 10665199of an ECM is entirely governed by external factors, with water-induced erosion being the primary cause of failure. The effects of driving rain and high humidity levels result in unsaturated soils becoming more susceptible to erosion via hydromechanical weakening. Desired durability properties will vary with application; however, all external applications will require an improvement in water resistance. I suggest that durability against external weather conditions (investigated through abrasion resistance, freeze and thaw and water resistance), and the influence of aging (examined using accelerated aging and carbonisation techniques) are investigated further to determine how resilience can be improved. To promote a circular economy and maintain focus on low carbon materials and construction processes, waste products can be used. Waste streams can include, but are not limited to, construction and excavation waste, food waste and industrial waste. Additives can provide specific material enhancements; the type and quantity of waste additives will be studied to ensure beneficial impacts on ECM performance. For example, the hydrophobic effect of non-toxic oils can improve water resistance whereas ground granulated blast furnace slag (a by-product of the steel industry) can be utilised to improve compressive strength and reduce shrinkage. Non-hazardous excavation waste is usually recycled for aggregates or used for on-site retaining structures. Excavation waste generally comprises ECM constituents, if the waste material is deemed suitable for earthen construction, the fine gravel and earth can be utilised as the bulk ECM components.In order to verify the carbon benefit of proposed ECMs, the upfront and embodied carbon can be quantified through the completion of life cycle assessments.