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

众所周知，传统的现代建筑材料，如混凝土和钢铁，会导致高浓度的二氧化碳排放；据估计，这些材料的建造和加工占全球二氧化碳排放量的11%。土质建筑材料（ecm）通常被视为过时且机械性能不足；虽然期望提高耐用性，但ecm的碳含量极低。这表明，这些材料的广泛应用可以降低总隐含碳水平，即从材料提取到生命周期结束处置的所有生命周期阶段的麦考利夫。我希望我的博士学位的主要重点是提高ECM的耐久性，从而提高ECM作为现代主流建筑材料的可行性。虽然现有的土制结构通常是单层建筑，但材料特性可以开发用于现代建筑，高速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。我的目标是进行从实验室大小的小样本到全尺寸的试验。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的寿命完全由外部因素决定，水侵蚀是失效的主要原因。暴雨和高湿水平的影响使非饱和土壤更容易通过水力学弱化而受到侵蚀。所需的耐久性性能将随应用而变化；然而，所有外部应用都需要提高防水性能。我建议对外部天气条件下的耐久性（通过耐磨性、冻融性和耐水性进行研究）和老化的影响（使用加速老化和碳化技术进行研究）进行进一步研究，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，可以使用废物。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；研究废物添加剂的种类和数量，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耐水性，而磨碎的粒状高炉渣（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回收作集料或用于现场挡土结构。挖掘废物一般含有ECM成分，如认为该废物适合土方建筑，则细砾和泥土可作为ECM的主要成分。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碳和隐含碳。

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 Earthen construction materials (ECMs) are often viewed as outdated and having inadequate mechanical properties; whilst improvements in durability are desired, ECMs have an extremely low embodied carbon.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.