Mechanical characterisation of adobe samples from the state of Morelos, Mexico

Adobe properties are highly dependent on the local soil composition and can vary significantly depending on fabrication techniques, configurations and state of conservation. The effect of the 2017 Earthquakes in Mexico relaunched the discussion regarding the adequacy and safety of adobe-based constructions – a debate that involves many economic, cultural and social facets related to the vernacular expressions and ways of life, long-time sustainability and risk management. In an effort to contribute to this, the present article includes and discusses a series of experiments performed in typologically representative adobe constructions in the municipality of Tepoztlán (State of Morelos, Mexico). A campaign of ultrasonic pulse velocity tests was conducted in thirteen historical buildings with the objective of assessing the variability of the adobe material present in those buildings. Some adobe units were then collected and tested in the laboratory to assess their compressive strength and stress/strain behaviour. From these two sets of experiments, it was possible to obtain valuable insights into the mechanical properties of the adobe that constitute the characteristic housing typology in the region.