Cob: Re: new researcher

[Mike Wye]

Dear Matthew,
In addition to Charmaine's list you may want to contact the Centre for
Earthen Architecture at Plymouth University, England which does a lot of
primary research and testing on cob as a building material. Their website is
www.tech.plym.ac.uk/soa/arch/earth.htm
regards,
Mike Wye
Mike Wye & Associates,
Traditional & Ecological Building Products
www.mikewye.co.uk
01409-281644
sales at mikewye.co.uk
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matthew HALL(SED)" <M.Hall at shu.ac.uk>
To: <coblist at deatech.com>
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2001 12:10 PM
Subject: Cob: new researcher


> Dear all,
>
> I am a research scientist at Sheffield Hallam University (UK) registered
for a PhD studying
> experimentally the physical and mechanical properties of fibre-reinforced
earth as a sustainable
> and low-cost alternative building material.
>
> Do anybody have any technical data or information relating to the various
natural fibres used in
> earth icnstruction, e.g. straw in adobe (middle east) etc. Earth
reinforced with natural fibres (be
> it straw, sisal, flax etc) is really no different to any of the more
conventional composite
> materials studied although for some reason the constructin industry's
preoccupation with concrete
> retards the study of earth construction in this manner.
>
> As far as i can tell, the influence of the volume fraction of fibres used,
the type of clay,
> production methodology (e.g. adobe, rammed earth etc), fibre orientation
and so on has not been
> studied in scientific or engineering terms and its precise effects are not
properly understood
> other than by specialist rural artisans and traditional builders in the
third world.  There may be
> some future potential for collaboration in this matter with
anyone/organisation that is interested
> in my research, i will certainly look forward to hearing from you.
>
> Yours sincerely
>
> Matthew Hall
>
> Centre for the Built Environment
> School of Environment & Development
> Sheffield Hallam University
> Unit 9 Science Park
> Howard Street
> Sheffield S1 1WB
> England
>
> Tel: +44 (0) 114 225 3244
> Fax: +44 (0) 114 225 3206
> E-mail: (work) M.Hall at shu.ac.uk
> E-mail: (home) Matt at Hall2000.fsnet.co.uk
>
>
>