Report .. Sima Darnal..

Arun Rimal, P.E.
A Report on
Design of Residential Building

with
Rammed Earth Walls
Building Location: Shaibu, Lalitpur, ward no- 5
Owner: Sima Darnal
Prepared by: Arun Rimal, P.E.

Aashish Bhandari, Structural Engineer
September 2016
310 Passaic Ave., Unit 406, Harrison, N.J. 07029

Ph. 212 414 4006 email:arun@osdengineering.com
Arun Rimal, P.E.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1
2. Building Description................................................................................................................ 1
3. Building Data ........................................................................................................................... 3
4. General Details ........................................................................................................................ 4
5. Footings ................................................................................................................................... 4
6. Rammed Earth walls ................................................................................................................ 6
7. Bond Beams ............................................................................................................................. 9
8. Structural Diaphragms (Floor Slabs & Roof) ........................................................................ 10
9. Conclusion and Recommendations ....................................................................................... 12
List of Figures
Figure 1: Building Plan ................................................................................................................... 1
Figure 2: Sectional Elevation of the Building................................................................................. 2
Figure 3: Exterior Elevation of the Building .................................................................................. 2
Figure 4: Wall Footing Section ....................................................................................................... 5
Figure 5: Footing Plan .................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 6: Footing Section at RCC Pads .......................................................................................... 5
Figure 7: Wall Reinforcements ....................................................................................................... 8
Figure 8: Wall Vertical Reinforcement in Plan .............................................................................. 8
Figure 9: Lintel/Sill band section .................................................................................................... 8
Figure 10: Reinforcement at Corner of Openings........................................................................... 8
Figure 11: Section of wall with Bond Beams. ............................................................................... 9
Figure 12: Floor Diaphragm Section ............................................................................................ 10
Figure 13: Roofing Section ........................................................................................................... 11

Arun Rimal, P.E.
1. Introduction
This is a structural report on a design of a two-storied residential building to be constructed with a Rammed
Earth walls. The design of the building is done in compliance to NZS 4299: 1998 (Earthen Buildings not
requiring specific Design) and also to NBC 204: 1994 (Design of Earthen Buildings), wherever felt
necessary. The description of building and fulfillment of codal provisions are described in this report.
2. Building Description
Figure 1: Building Plan

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Arun Rimal, P.E.
Figure 2: Sectional Elevation of the Building
Figure 3: Exterior Elevation of the Building

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Arun Rimal, P.E.
3. Building Data
Land Area in m2 1028.0
Ground floor Area in m2 79.41
First Floor Area in m2 60.5
Least base dimension of the structure (B) in m 7.010
Largest base dimension of the structure (L) in m 11.32
Ground Floor - Wall Height (in m) 2.67
Ground Floor - Wall thickness (in m) 0.45
Ground Floor - Maximum length between cross wall (in m) 4.32
First Floor - Wall Height (in m) 2.67
First Floor - Wall thickness (in m) 0.35
First Floor - Maximum length between cross wall (in m) 4.32
Seismic Zone Factor >0.6
Soil type Medium
Slab Thickness 0.125
Materials
Wall material Rammed Earth
Concrete M20 fck=20 Mpa
Reinforcement Fe500 fy=500 Mpa

Light timber floor with
Floor timber Joists
Rafter and Purlins in the roof Light timber

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Arun Rimal, P.E.
4. General Details
Plinth Area in m2 79.41 <300m2 OK (As per Section 1.2 NZS 4299.1998
Max Floor wall height

(in m) 2.67 <2.75m OK (As per Section 1.2 C (ii) NZS 4299.1998)
Max. gable wall height

(in m) 0.81 <3.05 m Ok (As per Section 1.2 C (ii) NZS 4299.1998)
Wall thickness (in m) 0.35 >280mm OK (As per Section 1.2 e NZS 4299.1998)
Roof Slope 14.510 <450 OK (As per Section 1.2 f NZS 4299.1998)
Wind Speed (Approx.) 47 m/s <50 m/s OK (As per Section 2.4.3 NZS 4299.1998)
Snow Load - - No snow Load

1300 mm < 2000 mm
Rain Fall (Approx.) yearly yearly
Floor Live Load 1.5 Kpa As per Section 1.2 i NZS 4299.1998
Roof Type Light As per Section 1.2 m NZS 4299.1998
5. Footings
All the Rammed Earth walls are supported on the concrete tie beams rested on stone masonry
wall footings 1.0 m deep as shown in Figure 4: Wall Footing Section as per NBC 204: 1994
section 6.2. In addition to this, at each intersecting joint of the walls i.e. where vertical RCC
columns are provided a RCC footing is also provided as shown in figure below. Therefore the
vertical load of the building is transferred to the ground through both the wall footings and the
RCC footings. The RCC footings are of 1.5m x1.5m in size and 625mm deep and hence should
be good enough to withstand all kinds of vertical loads acting upon them. All footings, the RCC
pad footings and the stone masonry strip footings are symmetrical about the centerline of walls
in compliance to NZS 4299: 1998 section 4.1.2. The foundation bed is at same plane throughout
the foundation an hence in compliance with NZS 4299: 1998 section 4.1.2

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Arun Rimal, P.E.
Figure 4: Wall Footing Section
Figure 5: Footing Plan Figure 6: Footing Section at RCC Pads

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Arun Rimal, P.E.
Hence, the RCC beams rested on the stone masonry walls provide the foundation for the
Rammed Earth walls and have following properties.
Width of footing tie beams 500mm
Depth of footing tie beams 230 mm
Reinforcement in the footing 4-16dia+2-12 dia bars with 8 dia stirrups @ 150 mm
beams (6”) c/c
The vertical wall starter reinforcement bars are inserted

Vertical wall starter
into the footing tie beams and bent 900 with t least
reinforcements
200mm horizontal legs as per NZS 4299:1998 section
4.7.2
Damp Proof Course Damp Proof Course of two coats of bituminous paint on
top of the foundation at the underside of exterior and
interior earth walls as per NZS 4299:1998 Section 4.4.2
Top of the foundation Top of foundation is roughened to 5mm as per NZS

4299: 1998 Section 4.4.2
6. Rammed Earth walls
OK (As per Section 1.2 e NZS

Thickness of walls 350mm > 280 mm 4299.1998)
Openings on external walls from the

outside edge of an external (lowest OK (as per NZS 4299, section
dimension) 1090 mm >900mm 5.1.6)
Wall bracings provided to each walls

in each of two principal directions of OK (as per NZS 4299, section
the building at 900 to each other 5.3.1)
Max. Distance between centerlines of OK (as per NZS 4299, section

parallel bracing 4320 mm < 6000mm 5.3.3)
=Height of OK (as per NZS 4299, section

Height of Bracing 2.67mm walls 5.3.5)
OK (as per NZS 4299, section

Minimum Length of Bracing 2515 mm 5.3.5)

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Arun Rimal, P.E.
Reinforcement in walls
 Walls are provided with 2-12 dia. vertical reinforcing bar at each end of bracing walls at a distance
of 150 mm from the ends of the bracing wall as per NZS 4299, section 5.8.1
 Walls are provided with 2-12 dia. bars as vertical at spacing of 450mm as vertical reinforcement and
hence shall be in compliance to NZS 4299, section 5.8.2.
 Vertical concrete columns are provided at each corners and joints. The vertical column are
provided with 4-16mm dia. longitudinal bars and 8mm dia. stirrups@ 150mm c/c
 Walls are provided with 2-12 dia. bars as at spacing of 300mm as horizontal reinforcement and
hence shall be in compliance to NZS 4299, section 5.8.3
 The corners of openings (doors and windows) are provided with vertical reinforcement consisting
of 2-12 mm dia. bars.
 RCC lintels and sill bands are provided above and below all openings in accordance with
NZS4299:1998, section 8.3.
The lintels are provided with 3-12mm dia. longitudinal bars tied with 7mm dia. binders provided @
150 mm c/c.

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Arun Rimal, P.E.
Figure 7: Wall Reinforcements Figure 8: Wall Vertical Reinforcement in Plan
Figure 9: Lintel/Sill band section Figure 10: Reinforcement at Corner of Openings

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Arun Rimal, P.E.
7. Bond Beams
RCC Bond beams are provided at the top of all earth walls in order to:
 Assist in supporting lateral loads between adjacent transverse structural walls;
 Provide anchorage of floor and roof members;
 Tie the earth walls together.
As per NZS 4299: 1998 , section 7.3.2
The size of the Bond beams provided to comply with NZS 4299: 1998 section 7.3 and section
7.6
 450 mm x 150 mm on the top of ground floor walls with 4-16mm dia. longitudinal tied
with 8mm dia. stirrups.
 400 mm x 150 mm on the top of first floor walls with 4-16mm dia. longitudinal tied
with 8mm dia. stirrups.
Laps in the bond beams are to be provided at least 40 times the diameter of the longitudinal
bars as per NZS 4299:1998 section 7.5.
Reinforcement at concrete bond beam intersections are designed to be tied together with 16dia
longitudinal bars lapped 40 times the bar diameter as per NZS 4299:1998 section 7.7.
Figure 11: Section of wall with Bond Beams.

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Arun Rimal, P.E.
8. Structural Diaphragms (Floor Slabs & Roof)
Floor slabs
All structural diaphragms supporting earth walls against horizontal is constructed as follows as
per NZS 4299: 1998, section 6.
The floor consists of the wooden beams/joists sized 100mm x 150mm placed @ 450 mm c/c
covered by a 25mm thick wooden flooring sheet.
Figure 12: Floor Diaphragm Section
Each sheet are to be fastened along each edge to boundary members with nails at 150 mm c/c
and be fastened to every intermediate framing member at 300 mm c/c and comply with NZS
4299: 1998 section 6.7 .
Joints in sheet material are to be made over supports.
Roof
A light weight roof is provided as per NZS 4299: 1998 section 1.2.The roof consists of wooden
rafter and purlins covered by PVC roof cover with aluminum sheet and a thermal insulation
sheet and a wooden plank in between.
The rafters are of size 75mm x 75mm and provided @ 600mm c/c while the purlins are of 50mm
x 50mm and provided @ 900mm c/c. Furthermore, where the rafter are joined an additional
purlin members are provided on each side of the joints. The rafters are rested and tied on 100mm
x 100mm wooden beams which are further rested and tied on bond beams.
The roof diaphragm is at an angle of 14.5 0 to the horizontal (< 250 ) and hence in compliance
to NZS 4299: 1998.section 6.2.

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Arun Rimal, P.E.
The thickness of roofing sheet is 25mm > 18mm as required per NZS 4299: 1998 section 6.6.
The roof sheets are nailed to the purlins @ 150 mm c/c at the edges and @300mm c/c at other
parts as per NZS 4299: 1998 section
Figure 13: Roofing Section

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Arun Rimal, P.E.
9. Conclusion and Recommendations
Hence, the building components are designed as per NZS 4299: 1998 and NBC 204: 1994. The
details of the design section and reinforcement are presented in the Structural Drawing Sheets.
Design and construction of the structure are inter – related jobs. A building behaves in a manner
how it has been built rather than what the intensions is during designing. A large percentage of
structural failures are attributed due to poor quality of construction. Quality assurance is needed in
both design and construction. Therefore, it is recommended that the construction of the building
be done under the supervision of skilled engineering manpower. Designer will not be responsible
for any faulty constructions at site.

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Arun Rimal, P.E.

Design of Residential Building

Rammed Earth Walls

Building Location: Shaibu, Lalitpur, ward no- 5

Owner: Sima Darnal

Prepared by: Arun Rimal, P.E.

310 Passaic Ave., Unit 406, Harrison, N.J. 07029

310 Passaic Ave., Unit 406, Harrison, N.J. 07029

Figure 1: Building Plan

310 Passaic Ave., Unit 406, Harrison, N.J. 07029

Figure 2: Sectional Elevation of the Building

Figure 3: Exterior Elevation of the Building

310 Passaic Ave., Unit 406, Harrison, N.J. 07029

Land Area in m2 1028.0

Ground floor Area in m2 79.41

First Floor Area in m2 60.5

Least base dimension of the structure (B) in m 7.010

Largest base dimension of the structure (L) in m 11.32

Ground Floor - Wall Height (in m) 2.67

Ground Floor - Wall thickness (in m) 0.45

Ground Floor - Maximum length between cross wall (in m) 4.32

First Floor - Wall Height (in m) 2.67

First Floor - Wall thickness (in m) 0.35

First Floor - Maximum length between cross wall (in m) 4.32

Seismic Zone Factor >0.6

Soil type Medium

Slab Thickness 0.125

Wall material Rammed Earth

Concrete M20 fck=20 Mpa

Reinforcement Fe500 fy=500 Mpa

Rafter and Purlins in the roof Light timber

310 Passaic Ave., Unit 406, Harrison, N.J. 07029

Max Floor wall height

Max. gable wall height

Snow Load - - No snow Load

Roof Type Light As per Section 1.2 m NZS 4299.1998

310 Passaic Ave., Unit 406, Harrison, N.J. 07029

Figure 4: Wall Footing Section

Figure 5: Footing Plan Figure 6: Footing Section at RCC Pads

310 Passaic Ave., Unit 406, Harrison, N.J. 07029

Depth of footing tie beams 230 mm

The vertical wall starter reinforcement bars are inserted

Top of the foundation Top of foundation is roughened to 5mm as per NZS

6. Rammed Earth walls

OK (As per Section 1.2 e NZS

Openings on external walls from the

Wall bracings provided to each walls

Max. Distance between centerlines of OK (as per NZS 4299, section

=Height of OK (as per NZS 4299, section

OK (as per NZS 4299, section

310 Passaic Ave., Unit 406, Harrison, N.J. 07029

310 Passaic Ave., Unit 406, Harrison, N.J. 07029

Figure 7: Wall Reinforcements Figure 8: Wall Vertical Reinforcement in Plan

Figure 9: Lintel/Sill band section Figure 10: Reinforcement at Corner of Openings

310 Passaic Ave., Unit 406, Harrison, N.J. 07029

Figure 11: Section of wall with Bond Beams.

310 Passaic Ave., Unit 406, Harrison, N.J. 07029

8. Structural Diaphragms (Floor Slabs & Roof)

Figure 12: Floor Diaphragm Section

Joints in sheet material are to be made over supports.

310 Passaic Ave., Unit 406, Harrison, N.J. 07029

Figure 13: Roofing Section

310 Passaic Ave., Unit 406, Harrison, N.J. 07029