c Auroville Earth Institute

Stabilised Rammed Earth Walls

This technique has been introduced in Auroville only in 1995, for the construction of Mirramukhi School, which has been renamed as Deepanam School later on.

A slipping type formwork has been designed and developed. The panels are lifted up and the walls are built like piers walls. Our process is similar to the modern rammed earth system practiced in USA or Australia, but adapted to the local context of a developing country. We ram by hand and we have developed also some peripheral equipment.

Some sand is always added: 25 to 30 % according to the soil quality, so as to reduce shrinkage. Cement percentage will vary with the soil quality, but in Auroville, we always use 5 % by weight of cement.


First panels and adjusting the end shutters
Ramming the second form
 
Lifting panels of the first form to the third one
Ramming the third form
 
Lifting panels of the second form to the fourth one
Ramming the fourth form
 
Ramming a corner wall in the first form
Adjusting panels of the second form of a corner wall
Lifting panels of the first form to the third one of a corner wall
Adjust panels of the third form of a corner wall
 
Lifting panels of the second form to the fourth one of a corner wall
Ramming the fourth form of a corner wall
 
Ramming a long wall in the second form
 
 
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