Author(s)

M. Olivier & P. Velkov

Abstract

Dynamic properties of compacted earth, as a building material M. Olivier, P. Velkov Laboratoire Geomateriaux de VENTPE, URA du CVV^ no J&52, ETVrfE, m5J<9 yWz-en-ye/m, France ABSTRACT Earth has been used as a building material since the very beginning of development of architecture, thousands of years ago. The earthen architecture is encountered all around the world in a tremendous variety of forms, some of which achieve harmony and richness that are hard to compare with. This architectural patrimony is very often situated in seismic regions : South of Europe, North of Africa, South-West of USA, Peru, Chile.... The low technologies used for these buildings and their lack of maintenance during the last fifty years make earthen architecture the most vulnerable type of structure during earthquakes. The Geomaterial Laboratory of ENTPE, France, has been developing studies on earth as a building material for the last ten years. They have been conducte

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