Technical feasibility of baling vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides Nash) for use as load-bearing walls | |
| Author | Vitt, Cory Michael |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.ST-07-03 |
| Subject(s) | Vetiver Straw bale houses |
| Note | A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Structural Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. ST-07-03 |
| Abstract | Vetiver grass had been proposed to be capable of being baled to produce bales similar to straw bales. To the authors' knowledge before this study, no one had published scientific research involving the production or quantitative testing of vetiver bales. The objective of this study was to produce, test, and analyze 'plastered vetiver bale walls' for use as load-bearing walls. This research study aimed at the following: 1) Conduct technical feasibility study for the application of a conventional square baling machine for vetiver grass. 2) Produce, test, and analyze full-scale plastered walls constructed using vetiver bales but following conventional straw bale building techniques. 3) Create a building demonstrating the building technique using the salvaged or recycled full-scale plastered walls that were used for testing purposes. The scope of the study included the density and moisture content of vetiver bales and the load-bearing properties, specifically the ultimate failure load and deflection, of the plastered vetiver bale wall system. It was concluded that it is feasible to bale vetiver grass, Vetiveria zizanioides Nash, using a conventional square baling machine to produce bales. A certain technique must be followed and that technique has been described in this study. Straw bale building techniques can be used to construct plastered vetiver bale buildings but there are unique disadvantages with vetiver bales. It was found that vetiver bales have density problems. The minimum density required by code is 112 kg/m3 [7 lbs/ft3 ]; if vetiver bales are produced properly, they are close to this value. The first and second wall had an ultimate failure load of 24.5 kN/m and 23.9 kN/m respectively. The minimum load required by California's straw bale building 'code' is 11.7 kN/m. Deflections were minimal at the ultimate failure load and the failure was ductile. |
| Year | 2007 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. ST-07-03 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Structural Engineering (STE) /Former Name = Structural Engineering and Construction (ST) |
| Chairperson(s) | Pichai Nimityongskul; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Canillas, Emmanuel C.;Clemente, Roberto; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2007 |