IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v14y2021i2p325-d477298.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Design Optimisation Strategies for Solid Rammed Earth Walls in Mediterranean Climates

Author

Listed:
  • Giada Giuffrida

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy)

  • Maurizio Detommaso

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy)

  • Francesco Nocera

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy)

  • Rosa Caponetto

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy)

Abstract

The renewed attention paid to raw earth construction in recent decades is linked to its undoubted sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and low embodied energy. In Italy, the use of raw earth as a construction material is limited by the lack of a technical reference standard and is penalised by the current energy legislation for its massive behaviour. Research experiences, especially transoceanic, on highly performative contemporary buildings made with natural materials show that raw earth can be used, together with different types of reinforcements, to create safe, earthquake-resistant, and thermally efficient buildings. On the basis of experimental data of an innovative fibre-reinforced rammed earth material, energy analyses are developed on a rammed earth building designed for a Mediterranean climate. The paper focuses on the influences that different design solutions, inspired by traditional bioclimatic strategies, and various optimised wall constructions have in the improvement of the energy performance of the abovementioned building. These considerations are furthermore compared with different design criteria aiming at minimising embodied carbon in base material choice, costs, and discomfort hours. Results have shown the effectiveness of using the combination of massive rammed earth walls, night cross ventilation, and overhangs for the reduction of energy demand for space cooling and the improvement of wellbeing. Finally, the parametric analysis of thermal insulation has highlighted the economic, environmental, and thermophysical optimal solutions for the rammed earth envelope.

Suggested Citation

  • Giada Giuffrida & Maurizio Detommaso & Francesco Nocera & Rosa Caponetto, 2021. "Design Optimisation Strategies for Solid Rammed Earth Walls in Mediterranean Climates," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-23, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:2:p:325-:d:477298
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/2/325/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/2/325/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Maria-Mar Fernandez-Antolin & José Manuel del Río & Vincenzo Costanzo & Francesco Nocera & Roberto-Alonso Gonzalez-Lezcano, 2019. "Passive Design Strategies for Residential Buildings in Different Spanish Climate Zones," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-22, September.
    2. Francesco Nocera & Alessandro Lo Faro & Vincenzo Costanzo & Chiara Raciti, 2018. "Daylight Performance of Classrooms in a Mediterranean School Heritage Building," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Serrano, Susana & de Gracia, Alvaro & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2016. "Adaptation of rammed earth to modern construction systems: Comparative study of thermal behavior under summer conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 180-188.
    4. Orosa, José A. & Oliveira, Armando C., 2012. "A field study on building inertia and its effects on indoor thermal environment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 89-96.
    5. Francesco Nocera & Rosa Caponetto & Giada Giuffrida & Maurizio Detommaso, 2020. "Energetic Retrofit Strategies for Traditional Sicilian Wine Cellars: A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.
    6. Giuffrida Giada & Rosa Caponetto & Francesco Nocera, 2019. "Hygrothermal Properties of Raw Earth Materials: A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-21, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Qinglong Gao & Tao Wu & Lei Liu & Yong Yao & Bin Jiang, 2022. "Prediction of Wall and Indoor Hygrothermal Properties of Rammed Earth Folk House in Northwest Sichuan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Monica C. M. Parlato & Simona M. C. Porto & Carmen Galán-Marín & Carlos Alberto Rivera-Gómez & Massimo Cuomo & Francesco Nocera, 2023. "Thermal Performance, Microstructure Analysis and Strength Characterisation of Agro-Waste Reinforced Soil Materials," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-20, July.
    3. Jerzy Górski & Anna Patrycja Nowak & Marek Kołłątaj, 2021. "Resilience of Raw-Earth Technology in the Climate of Middle Europe Based on Analysis of Experimental Building in Pasłęk in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-19, November.
    4. Giada Giuffrida & Rosa Caponetto & Francesco Nocera & Massimo Cuomo, 2021. "Prototyping of a Novel Rammed Earth Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Michele La Noce & Alessandro Lo Faro & Gaetano Sciuto, 2021. "Clay-Based Products Sustainable Development: Some Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-26, January.
    2. Mu, Jun & Yu, Shenwei & Hao, Shimeng, 2023. "Quantitative evaluation of thermal conductivity of earth materials with different particle size distributions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    3. Grazia Lombardo, 2021. "The Seismic Coat: A Sustainable and Integrated Approach to the Retrofit of Existing Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, June.
    4. Maria Rosa Trovato & Francesco Nocera & Salvatore Giuffrida, 2020. "Life-Cycle Assessment and Monetary Measurements for the Carbon Footprint Reduction of Public Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-25, April.
    5. Maria-Mar Fernandez-Antolin & José-Manuel del-Río & Roberto-Alonso Gonzalez-Lezcano, 2019. "Influence of Solar Reflectance and Renewable Energies on Residential Heating and Cooling Demand in Sustainable Architecture: A Case Study in Different Climate Zones in Spain Considering Their Urban Co," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-31, November.
    6. Francesco Nocera & Rosa Caponetto & Giada Giuffrida & Maurizio Detommaso, 2020. "Energetic Retrofit Strategies for Traditional Sicilian Wine Cellars: A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.
    7. Stefania De Medici, 2021. "Italian Architectural Heritage and Photovoltaic Systems. Matching Style with Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-23, February.
    8. Giada Giuffrida & Rosa Caponetto & Francesco Nocera & Massimo Cuomo, 2021. "Prototyping of a Novel Rammed Earth Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, October.
    9. Matteo Vitale & María del Mar Barbero-Barrera & Santi Maria Cascone, 2021. "Thermal, Physical and Mechanical Performance of Orange Peel Boards: A New Recycled Material for Building Application," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-16, July.
    10. Qinglong Gao & Tao Wu & Lei Liu & Yong Yao & Bin Jiang, 2022. "Prediction of Wall and Indoor Hygrothermal Properties of Rammed Earth Folk House in Northwest Sichuan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-16, March.
    11. Ángel M. Costa & Rebeca Bouzón & Diego Vergara & José A. Orosa, 2019. "Eco-friendly Pressure Drop Dehumidifier: An Experimental and Numerical Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-17, April.
    12. Ariadna Carrobé & Lídia Rincón & Ingrid Martorell, 2021. "Thermal Monitoring and Simulation of Earthen Buildings. A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-47, April.
    13. Karim Mohamed Ragab & Mehmet Fatih Orhan & Kenan Saka & Yousef Zurigat, 2022. "A Study and Assessment of the Status of Energy Efficiency and Conservation at School Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-31, August.
    14. Sara Eriksson & Lovisa Waldenström & Max Tillberg & Magnus Österbring & Angela Sasic Kalagasidis, 2019. "Numerical Simulations and Empirical Data for the Evaluation of Daylight Factors in Existing Buildings in Sweden," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-24, June.
    15. Alexey Maslakov & Ksenia Sotnikova & Gleb Gribovskii & Dmitry Evlanov, 2022. "Thermal Simulation of Ice Cellars as a Basis for Food Security and Energy Sustainability of Isolated Indigenous Communities in the Arctic," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-16, January.
    16. Václav Kočí & Jan Kočí & Jiří Maděra & Jaroslav Žák & Robert Černý, 2020. "Computational Prediction of Susceptibility to Biofilms Growth: Two-Dimensional Analysis of Critical Construction Details," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-17, January.
    17. Przemyslaw Tabaka & Justyna Wtorkiewicz, 2022. "Analysis of the Spectral Sensitivity of Luxmeters and Light Sensors of Smartphones in Terms of Their Influence on the Results of Illuminance Measurements—Example Cases," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-21, August.
    18. Maria-Mar Fernandez-Antolin & José-Manuel del-Río & Fernando del Ama Gonzalo & Roberto-Alonso Gonzalez-Lezcano, 2020. "The Relationship between the Use of Building Performance Simulation Tools by Recent Graduate Architects and the Deficiencies in Architectural Education," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-20, March.
    19. Andrea Salandin & Alberto Quintana-Gallardo & Vicente Gómez-Lozano & Ignacio Guillén-Guillamón, 2022. "The First 3D-Printed Building in Spain: A Study on Its Acoustic, Thermal and Environmental Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-20, October.
    20. Rosa Caponetto & Massimo Cuomo & Maurizio Detommaso & Giada Giuffrida & Antonio Lo Presti & Francesco Nocera, 2023. "Performance Assessment of Giant Reed-Based Building Components," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:2:p:325-:d:477298. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.