The article is focused on measurement and evaluation of elastic modulus of unfired rammed earth and determination of stress-strain curve in compressive test. Sets of different containt of clay, sand and water were made and their properties were evalueted and compared. It was found out that for the hightest elascity modulus is ideal the ratio of sand and clay around 75/25 up to 80/20, the sets with montmorillonite clay had substantialy smaller value of elascity modulusthan the sets with illite-kaolinite clay and the ideal content of water for sand/clay ratio 75/25 is around 0.295.

Abstract. This article presents the development of mass moisture of rammed earth material and determines the water absorption capacity coefficient for rammed earth with illite-kaoline clay. Specimens of two prescriptions were rammed in the moulds. They were settled in the box with soft foam that was moistened. The level of moistening was kept constant. The specimens were regularly measured and weighted. Two measuerements were carried out -one of montmorillonite clay during 13 days and one of illite-kaoline clay during three hours. The development of moisture increase was captured and the water absorption capacity coefficient for illite-kaoline clay was determined and compared to coefficients of common building materials.

Final properties of unfired earth are influenced by composition of earth mixtures. Methylene blue test could be useful method for analysis of earth composition. This would facilitate of designing unfired earth building structures because composition of natural earth is various. Principle of methylene blue test is measure of amount of adsorbed methylene blue dye by clay. The essential component of earth mixtures is clay because clay fulfils a function of binder. Experimental measure of adsorption capacity of individual kind of clay is described in this paper. Adsorption capacity was investigated in montmorillonite, kaolinite, illite-kaolinite and illite clays. The obtained results show that the adsorption capacity of clays is significantly different.

Unfired earth is a traditional building material, but it is less used than other building materials, such as concrete or steel. But the use of unfired earth is experiencing a renaissance. ammed earth is a type of unfired earth and is usually used for load bearing structures. This paper descries an experimental determination of the tensile bending strength and compressive strength of the rammed earth specimens with known compositions. Mechanical properties are dependent on these compositions (kind of clay, amount of clay, amount of mixture water). Laboratory specimens were produced without inorganic binders or fibrous admixtures. We observed higher tensile bending strengths and lower compressive strengths in specimen mixtures containing more clay. The obtained results were evaluated in a context of a previous research. The results were also compared with results published by another author.

The paper is focused on unfired rammed earth and its water absorption properties. Increasing the utilization of raw natural materials can be one of the approaches towards sustainable development. Different prescriptions were designed and specimens were rammed. Then they were put in the covering of nylon and settled in the box with soft foam that was moistened. The level of moistening was constant. The specimens were regularly weighted. Specimens with montmorillonite clay have the highest values of the water absorption coefficient. Montmorillonite clay has a higher binding capacity. The values are compared to values that were found in the literature. Then the maximal capillary water capacity by area was determined.