Improvement of Thermal Comfort in Homes Using Reinforced Earth Walls in the High Andean Area

Huaricallo Y.; Huamán A.C.P. · Civil Engineering and Architecture (2025) · DOI: 10.13189/cea.2025.130538

Resumen

This study evaluates the influence of the addition of kaolin and sawdust on the improvement of thermal comfort and mechanical resistance of earth blocks used in rural dwellings in high Andean areas. The research was carried out in the community of Corisorgona, Cajamarca, where local materials were extracted to manufacture blocks of earth with dosages of 4% and 8% sawdust, combined with 4% kaolin. Physical (granulometry, Atterberg limits, specific gravity) and mechanical (compressive strength) tests were carried out in accordance with the Peruvian technical standard E.080. The blocks reinforced with 4% kaolin and 4% sawdust reached an average strength of 16.70 kg/cm2, significantly exceeding both the standard blocks (7.87 kg/cm2) and the normative minimum (10.20 kg/cm2). Subsequently, a test room was built with reinforced earth walls (4% sawdust + 4% kaolin) and its thermal behavior was compared with a traditional house and the outdoor environment. The measurements, recorded with thermohygrometers for 24 hours, revealed that the reinforced room maintained a more stable temperature, with an average of 20.54 °C, compared to 13.88 °C in the conventional house and 13.92 °C in the environment. Statistical analysis using Pearson correlation and linear regression confirmed the thermal improvement. The results show that the incorporation of recyclable and local materials not only improves the structural performance of adobe, but also optimizes indoor thermal conditions, promoting sustainable, economical, and replicable solutions in rural areas affected by extreme climates.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad Privada del Norte