Testing Ground: A Democratized, Low-Tech Method for In-Situ Rammed Earth Compression Testing.

Abstract

This paper introduces a novel method for the in-situ compression testing of cylindrical rammed earth samples, offering a low-cost, time-efficient, lower-bound alternative to laboratory-based testing. Utilizing widely accessible and inexpensive materials, the method aims to remove technical and financial barriers to rammed earth testing, providing key material mechanical property data and thereby broadening access to rammed earth as a viable, sustainable construction method for diverse clients and climates in a modern building ecosystem.

As a proof of concept, this paper details the practical implementation of this method in constructing a series of sculptural public rammed earth walls in the humid continental climate of Bondurant, Iowa, United States, thus demonstrating the method's feasibility and versatility while showcasing its potential to democratize access to reliable lower-bound rammed earth compression testing. The result is an open-source process for testing rammed earth specimens, contributing to a growing digital commons of information and methods aimed at making earthen construction more feasible within modern construction ecosystems.