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Disaster Resistant Rural House Design For Low Income People

Article · January 2010

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 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENGINEERING RESEARCH, DINDIGUL
Volume 1, No1, 2010

© Copyright 2010 All rights reserved Integrated Publishing Association

REVIEW ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

Disaster Resistant Rural House Design For Low Income People

K.Mahendran1 A.Zahir Hussain2
Department of Civil Engineering and rural technology,
Gandhigram Rural University, Dindigul
zahircivil@rediffmail.com

ABSTRACT
India has been facing natural disasters like drought, flood, cyclone, storm surge and
earthquake every year in different parts of the country. These disasters cause large scale
damages, destructions, death, injuries to human and animals. The non engineered houses
constructed by the people are mostly damaged due to lack of technical guidance and
affordability. Considering the growth of non engineered housing, and the damage level of
housing due to disasters, it is essential to develop a appropriate housing model which resists
the disaster forces. This paper describes the method of constructing rural housing using low
cost techniques.
Keywords: Rural housing, earthquake resistant structures, disaster.

1. Introduction
India has been facing natural disasters like drought, flood, cyclone, storm surge and
earthquake every year in different parts of the country. These disasters cause large scale
damages, destructions, death, injuries to human and animals. The non engineered houses
constructed by the people are mostly damaged due to lack of technical guidance and
affordability. Considering the growth of non engineered housing, and the damage level of
housing due to disasters, it is essential to develop a appropriate housing model which resists
the disaster forces. This paper describes the method of constructing rural housing using low
cost techniques.
2. Problems on Rural Housing
The rural houses are predominantly built with the locally available materials like mud,
bamboo, tiles and thatches. These materials are not durable and get damaged due to heavy
rain and wind blows. The projected eaves of the roof are also damaged due to heavy wind
velocity. During cyclone the pyramidal shape roofs are damaged due to uplift forces
developed by cyclone .The light roof structures having inadequate “J” bolts and absence of
wind bracing and lack of ties, inadequate sheet thickness, fastening and insufficient frequency
of the fasteners contribute to the damages, even the permanent houses constructed with RCC
and brick walls are also affected due to the excessive corrosion of steel in the structures .The
roof slab having inadequate thickness of roof concrete and low self weight which causes
tension at the top due to the suction effect of the wind in where hair line cracks developed,
These RC concrete exposed to the
atmospheres are getting rusted and ultimately causes roof in to collapse. The unsymmetrical
houses have shown heavy damages when it compared to symmetrical plan about its both axis.
The effects of wind tunnel on the streets and housing plan arrangements are the factors to
decide the damage level during disasters. The unreinforced masonry walls are also fails due
to excessive tension. Some times the timber rafter are destroyed by the white ants and losses
its section and leads to collapse at the time of disasters. The unscientific installation of roof
tiles, the doors and windows latches, hinges and bolts are vulnerable hardware and fasteners

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 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENGINEERING RESEARCH, DINDIGUL
Volume 1, No1, 2010

© Copyright 2010 All rights reserved Integrated Publishing Association

REVIEW ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

during the disaster. The cantilever parapets and the light weight verandah roof, improper
connections of walls with footings are the most susceptible to high speed wind. The sitting of
building on the terrain conditions like hills, valley, ridges in the windward side, leeward side
are the factors influencing the damage level of structure.
1.3 Basic Requirment Of Cyclone Resistant Buildings
Based on the above facts the housing plan, design and executions should be carried out
considering the following.
1. Avoid a low pitched roof
2. Use of Hip roof (or) High Pitched gable roof
3. Avoid over hanging roofs.
4. Cyclone shutters to be introduced in the opening places.
5. Minimize the projection of eaves.
6. Recommended steel reinforcement should be provided in the wall as seismic band
in vertical and horizontal directions.
7. The foundation of the building should be designed by taking bearing capacity
under the soil strata conditions and also checked the uplift pressure.
8. The wall should resist the horizontal forces developed by cyclone.
9. The joints are the vulnerable points should be properly designed and inter
connection is essential.
10. The self weight of roof should be increased to counteract the uplift pressure
developed by the cyclone, the structural components inter connected and anchored
with the foundations so that the entire building should be act as one unit.
11. The over hanging roofs eves projections are restricted.
12. The sloped roof is preferable rather than flat roof and low pitched roof are to be
avoided
13. In the costal area the steel section should be protected from corrosion and use the
anti corrosion reinforcement for the buildings. The cover for the reinforcement
and quality of concrete are ensured for durability.
1.4 Design Of Model Rural House
While designing the socio economic status, present living pattern, traditional shape
of existing the structures, type of labours and materials availability are considered for
developing a house design,
Plan Form:
· Simple square / rectangle plan has been adopted in the design. A square
symmetrical and compact plan form is more stable than a zig­ zag plan, and is
less prone to wind cyclone damages.
· The plan provides an inviting entrance verandah units a seat out, leading to the
multipurpose living room which is also generally used for storing cloths,
house hold utensil etc.
· The kitchen is attached to the rear side but do not have a door.
· A toilet at back yard has been proposed and separated form the main house.
Foundation:

Strip footing with RC band of 100mm thick to the width of brick masonry is to be
provided all along the portion and connected to the RC Band.
Grade Beam 230mm x 75mm has been provided at the ground level and plinth beam
has been provided at the plinth level in the design.

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 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENGINEERING RESEARCH, DINDIGUL
Volume 1, No1, 2010

© Copyright 2010 All rights reserved Integrated Publishing Association

REVIEW ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

The vertical reinforcement (anchorage bars of 10mm rod) at the corners and jams of
doors and windows has been provided from the ground level beam.
Walling:
The exterior brick walls are provided with horizontal and vertical reinforcing bars
connected with concrete band to resist the horizontal pressure and continuous lintel beam has
been provided. The height of the building kept as 3000mm.
Roofing:
As per the discussion on the failure of buildings during the disasters, the suction on
flat roof is much more than sloping roof and many of the roof structure are fail is due to their
less weight and poor anchorage. The pyramidal or hipped roof having symmetrical slope on
both areas are flat roof with more self weight are the appropriate solution for the roof.
Therefore 100thick reinforced concrete slab with M20 grade are suggested.

Table1: Specification Details of model houses.

TYPE FOUNDATION WALLING ROOFING
MODEL 1 Strip Foundation English Bond wall R.C.C. Slab
MODEL 2 Strip Foundation Rat ­ Trap bond Brick Panel
wall
MODEL 3 Strip Foundation Stabilized Mud Ferro Cement
Block Channel

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 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENGINEERING RESEARCH, DINDIGUL
Volume 1, No1, 2010

© Copyright 2010 All rights reserved Integrated Publishing Association

REVIEW ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

MODEL1

230.00

2700.00
FLOORINGCONCRETE
SANDFILLING

600.00
G.L G.L150
150
150
100

ELEVATION SECTIONONA­ A

W AREAOFTHEBUILDING: 30.23SQM
230.00
D1
BEDROOM TOILET
3000x2400 3000x1200 J1
W
3000 SCHEDULEOFJOINERY
D
A A
5075.0
D ­ DOOR 900X2000
CUPBOARD
115
D1 ­ DOOR 750X2000
KITCHEN W
1500x2400 O HALL W ­ WINDOW 900X1200
1500
J 3000x3300
J ­ R.C. JALLY 900X600
230

2400.00 3000.00
J1 ­ R.C. JALLY 600X600
230.00 115.00

5975.00

PLAN

Figure 1: Plan showing the first type of proposed model

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 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENGINEERING RESEARCH, DINDIGUL
Volume 1, No1, 2010

© Copyright 2010 All rights reserved Integrated Publishing Association

REVIEW ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

MODEL 2

230.00

2700. 00
FLOORING CONCRETE
SAND FILLING

600.00
G.L G.L 150
150
150
100

ELEVATION SECTION ON A ­ A

W AREA OF THE BUILDING: 30.23SQM

230. 00
D1
BED ROOM TOILET
3000 x 2400 3000 x 1200 J1
W
3000
SCHEDULE OF JOINERY
D
A A
5075.0
D ­ DOOR 900 X 2000
CUP BOARD
115 D1 ­ DOOR 750 X 2000
KITCHEN W
1500 x 2400 O HALL W ­ WINDOW 900 X 1200
1500 J
3000 x 3300
J ­ R.C. JALLY 900 X 600
230

2400.00 3000.00
J1 ­ R.C. JALLY 600 X 600
230.00 115. 00

5975.00

PLAN

Figure 2: Plan showing the second type of proposed model

MODEL3

230.00

FERRO CEMENT CHANNELS

2700.00
FL OORING CONCRETE
SAND FILLING

600. 00
G.L G.L 150
150
150
100

ELEVATION SECTION ON A ­ A

W AREA OF THE BUILDING: 30.23SQM

230.00
D1
BED ROOM TOILET
3000 x 2400 3000 x 1200 J1
W
3000 SCH EDULE OF JOINERY
D
A A
5075.0
D ­ DOOR 900 X 2000
CU P BOARD
115
D1 ­ DOOR 750 X 2000
KITCHEN W
1500 x 2400 O HALL W ­ WINDOW 900 X 1200
1500
J 3000 x 3300
J ­ R.C. JALLY 900 X 600
230

2400. 00 3000.00
J1 ­ R.C. JALLY 600 X 600
230.00 115. 00

5975. 00
PLAN

Figure 3: Plan showing the third type of proposed model

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 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENGINEERING RESEARCH, DINDIGUL
Volume 1, No1, 2010

© Copyright 2010 All rights reserved Integrated Publishing Association

REVIEW ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

3. Results and Discussion

The above shown plan are some of the proposed plans that can be used while
constructing houses in the areas of disaster prone zones. This will not only safeguard the
structure but also will save lot of peoples lives. Rural technology Center of Gandhigram
University is conducting lot of research works in the areas of rural construction, this type of
model houses were constructed and tested in our campus.

4.References
1. Guidelines for cyclone resistant construction of Buildings in Gujarat, Gujarat State
Disaster management Authority, Government of Gujarat. December ­ 2001
2. Guidelines for reconstructions of housed affected by Tsunami in Tamil Nadu –by A.R.
Santha Kumar et al September 2005.
3. I.S. 456 – 2000 Code of Practice for Plain and Reinforce Concrete – Code of practice.
4. International Association for Earthquake Engineering TOKYO “ The Guidelines for
Earth quake Resistant Non – Engineered Construction “ A.S. ARYA , et al October
1986, Reprint by Indian Society of Earthquake Technology, Roorkee 247667..
5. Improving wind/cyclone Resistant buildings Guidelines by A.S. Arya et al ­ 1999

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