Cob: Re: Earthquake.

[Patricia L. MacKenzie]

>>>>>>>WRT cement - I'm given to understand it is nearly as old as cob - 
>>>>>>>that the first recorded use was by the early Romans, somewhere around 
>>>>>>>100 BCE or 100CE. I got this from art history, specifically the 
>>>>>>>section on architecture and engineering.....>>>>>>>


>From: "Robert Bolman" <robtb at efn.org>
>Reply-To: "Robert Bolman" <robtb at efn.org>
>To: <Laythsul at aol.com>, <coblist at deatech.com>
>Subject: Cob: Re: Earthquake.
>Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2000 10:08:23 -0700
>
> >  How do cob buildings do in Earthquakes?
>
>
>.............unlike adobe where the blocks can separate at their mortar 
>joints.
>
>These are all valid points WRT cob and earthquakes, but I feel that they'll
>only hold up for so long.  I see where a lot of cob builders will take off
>building with all their enthusiasm and whimsey and neglect some very simple
>engineering & physics principals.
>
>One of the most troubling things that I see is where, in an effort to make
>the building as "natural" as possible, the builders will refuse to use any
>portland cement in the foundation - making it instead out of dry stacked
>rocks.  I worry that in the event of an earthquake, the earth will move
>beneath the building and the massive walls will stubbornly try to stay 
>right
>where they are.  The loose rock foundation will serve as "ball bearings" to
>facilitate this.  When the dust has settled, the house will no longer be
>sitting quite on top of what was once the foundation.  The walls may be
>cracked or worse yet, fallen in crushing those inside.
>
>Another common principle of engineering that often falls through the cracks
>when designing and building a cob building is that of LATERAL BRACING.

>>>>>>>>>..........my thoughts on the subject place me in Mr. Bolman's 
>>>>>>>>>corner - study engineering and design.....>>>>>>>>

>dwarfed by their weight.  And they typically just sit on their foundation
>which itself is often questionable.
>
>All this said, I do just adore cob.  It's beautiful, very very
>environmentally friendly and makes perfect sense in many applications.  I
>just feel that the above issues should be thought of more.
>
>Robert Bolman
>
>

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