EARTH BASED TECHNOLOGIES

COMPOSITE COLUMNS


This technique is extensively used in Auroville since 1995. Two types of round hollow CSEB have been designed: the round block 240 and the round block 290. These blocks are reinforced with reinforced with
cement concrete. Both types of blocks are laid with a cement sand mortar CSM 1: 3 of 1 cm thickness. Note that stabilised earth mortar cannot be used for this composite technique for the reason that the stabilised
earth mortar will shrink and will not adhere on the steel rods. The steel rods do not exceed 1.5 m high, as it is difficult to slide down the blocks if the steel bars are the entire height of the column. Therefore some
extension rods are regularly placed with an overlap of 50 time the bar diameter.

Block 240 (240 mm diameter) Block 290 (290 mm diameter)

Block 240
Vertical reinforcements should be 12 mm for the blocks 240.
Stirrups must be 6 mm and placed every 20 cm c/c.
The holes where the reinforcement are inserted are cast with concrete 1
cement: 2 sand: 4 (1/2gravel)
The columns 240 must be linked on 2 sides of the building (through a beam or
ring beam). It cannot be left free standing (without any link through a beam to
the building).
Note that this block should not be used for seismic zones.

Block 290
Vertical reinforcements should be 10 mm for the blocks 290, as the holes
are not large enough to accept a bigger diameter.
Stirrups must be 6 mm and placed every 20 cm c/c. Note that for seismic
zones, stirrups should be 8 TS and placed at 10 cm c/c
The holes, where are inserted the reinforcement, are cast with concrete 1
cement: 2 sand: 4 (chips gravel)
The columns 290 can be linked only on 1 sides of the building (through a
beam or ring beam). It cannot be left free standing (without any link through a
beam to the building).
Note that this block can be used for seismic zones.


Building a composite column 290

Trench foundation for a composite column 290


Steel reinforcement for a composite column 290


Casting concrete in holes and fixing a stirrup


Casting the plinth beam


Checking the level of the first block


Casting concrete in the holes


Fixing a stirrup


Checking the spacing of bars


Steel reinforcement at the head



Casting the head with the beams


Completed head



Composite columns 290 and 240

Section of a composite column 290

Composite columns 290 and 240


Building a composite column 240

Steel mat with 12 TS


Sliding down a round block 240


Adjusting the level of the first block


Laying mortar 1 cement: 3 sand


Inserting a stirrup 6 MS, 9 cm diameter

Casting concrete 1 cement: 2 sand: 4 gravel



Building a composite staircase 290

Placing a precast concrete step for a staircase


Adjusting a block for a staircase


Casting a stirrup with 1 cement: 3 sand


Inserting a block for a staircase


Laying the landing slab


Completed staircase completed in 3 days


Composite staircase 290 completed after 3 days