Design and performance of load bearing shear walls made from composite rice straw blocks

K. R. Camann, D. C. Jansen, C. B. Chadwell, B. Z. Korman

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although rice straw and other grains have been used in building since prehistory, in the past two decades, there has been a move to utilize this rapidly renewable, locally available, agricultural byproduct. Stak Block, invented by Oryzatech, Inc., is a modular, interlocking block made of a composite of rice straw and binding agent that serves as an evolution in straw bale construction. This study investigates the feasibility of using these Stak Blocks as a structural system. Constitutive properties of the composite straw material such as yield strength and elastic stiffness were determined and then compared to conventional straw bale. Various construction detailing iterations were evaluated during full-scale shear wall testing using a pseudo-static cyclic loading protocol. Finally, the available ductility of the prestressed Stak Block walls in a lateral force resisting application is quantified along with an approximation of potential design shear forces. It was determined that the Stak Block material performed satisfactorily in gravity and lateral force resisting applications, in some respects better than conventional wood-framed construction, and has great potential as a seismically-resistant building material.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages1405-1416
Number of pages12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes
EventStructures Congress 2010 - Orlando, FL, United States
Duration: May 12 2010May 15 2010

Conference

ConferenceStructures Congress 2010
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOrlando, FL
Period5/12/105/15/10

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Building and Construction

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