ACT Mud Walls case studies
ACT Mud Walls · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The ACT Mud Walls credential - also described as a mud wall construction assessment - is intended for builders, owner-builders, natural-building practitioners and site supervisors who work with earth-based wall systems and want independent evidence of their competence. It focuses on the practical judgement needed to select and test suitable soil, design and control mixes, erect and brace formwork, place and compact material correctly, detail reinforcement and openings, manage curing and finishing, and protect finished walls from water and erosion. The ACT Mud Walls case studies are 5 cases and about 2,005 words.
1Choosing a Borrow Pit for a Two-Storey Rammed Earth Wall
A two-storey rammed earth house is planned with 450 mm walls. Three borrow pits are available.
477 words, about 2 min2Cracking and Low Strength in Cement-Stabilized Earth Blocks
A block yard produces 290 x 140 x 100 mm compressed stabilized earth blocks with 6% ordinary Portland cement by dry mass. The soil is a sandy silt with 12% clay.
404 words, about 2 min3Window Opening Crack in a Rammed Earth Wall
A single-storey rammed earth wall is 3.0 m high and 300 mm thick. A 1.2 m wide x 1.0 m high window is placed with its near edge 0.5 m from an outside corner.
389 words, about 2 min4Erosion at the Base of an Exposed Mud-Block Wall
A garden wall 2.4 m high is built from 300 x 150 x 150 mm unstabilized mud blocks with a 1:3 cement-sand mortar. It faces south-west and is exposed to wind-driven rain.
355 words, about 2 min5Formwork Deflection and Lift Delamination in Rammed Earth
A 2.4 m high rammed earth wall is built in a 6 m long formwork panel. The formwork is 18 mm plywood on 50 x 100 mm timber studs at 600 mm centres, with through-ties at 900 mm vertically and 1.2 m horizontally.
380 words, about 2 min