1 Professor, Pontifical Catholic University of Perú, Lima, Perú. asanbar@pucp.edu.pe
2 Professor, Pontifical Catholic University of Perú, Lima, Perú. dquiun@pucp.edu.pe
3 Civil Engineer, Pontifical Catholic University of Perú, Lima, Perú. dcabreraa@gym.com.pe
4 Civil Engineer, Pontifical Catholic University of Perú, Lima, Perú. w.huaynate@pucp.pe
5 Civil Engineer, Pontifical Catholic University of Perú, Lima, Perú. iromerob@pucp.edu.pe
6 Civil Engineer, Pontifical Catholic University of Perú, Lima, Perú. jrpereyra@pucp.pe
ABSTRACT
The sudden collapse of traditional adobe walls exposed to long term water action is addressed in this paper. Several solutions to avoid this dangerous behavior are tested experimentally. This is a common problem in Peru and many other countries. Heavy rains increase the rivers’ flows and produce frequent floods that affect adobe houses built in riverside areas.
Six experimental techniques to protect adobe walls under floods were studied at the Structures Laboratory at the Catholic University of Peru. The techniques were simple, economical and had excellent results. The object was to protect the wall bases and lower layers to avoid the negative effects of water action. The study had two parts. In each of them four adobe walls were built on a concrete channel, which was filled with water simulating a flooding.
The first set had a traditional wall, and three other walls with different treatments against water action: a plain concrete plinth, stabilized adobe units, and an external wire mesh plastered with cement mortar. The second set also had a traditional wall, and three other walls with different treatments: a low resistance plain concrete plinth with large stones, clay brick units in the lower layers as plinth, and an improvement of the external wire mesh plastered with polished mortar. The traditional walls collapsed after 20 and 73 minutes in the first and second set respectively, while the other walls remained more than two weeks without danger of collapse. Therefore, the protection of adobe walls under floods is possible.
KEYWORDS: adobe, floods, experimental techniques, water action
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