Construcción de un prototipo prefabricado de bóveda con tierra cruda y madera como cubierta para edificaciones

Constructions with raw earth are of great importance in various parts of the world due to their numerous
advantages and benefits. The material used in the construction is considered ancestral and traditional
and is made primarily of raw earth, water, and organic fibers. There are multiple construction techniques,
and some are combined with other materials such as wood, bamboo, etc. Based on the bahareque
technique that combines multiple materials, the objective of this research was to propose a prefabricated
prototype of a vault as a roof for buildings. Being an experimental model, the study was divided into
three stages: first, the optimal soil and possible natural and chemical additions that could be part of the
material to cover the structural element were selected, second, the shape and construction system were
studied, and third The prototype was built and mechanical tests were carried out. As a result, a 1:5 scale
prototype was obtained, 0.65 m long, 30 cm wide and 0.14 m high, with a shape approximation to the
Catalan vaults, combining wood, natural ropes, raw earth coating, and tensioners, supporting
considerable loads in mechanical tests. This experimentation makes us think about the innovation of
construction systems with raw earth, this being an alternative for new buildings to be built