Experimental Studies on Earthen Architecture Sites Consolidated with BS Materials in Arid Regions

Table 4

Physical and mechanical parameters of undisturbed soil of rammed earth and adobe.

Undisturbed soil type	Wet bulk density; g/cm^3	Moisture content; %	Dry bulk density; g/cm^3	Liquid limit; %	Plastic limit; %	Specific gravity	Void ratio	Porosity; %	Saturation; %
Rammed earth	1.903	2.707	1.853	0.241	4.606	2.675	0.444	0.307	21.60
Adobe	1.733	1.778	1.702	0.238	4.605	2.675	0.527	0.364	20.66

Note: most of pores are intergranular pores, mainly in middle size (0.016–0.004 mm) and in small size (0.004–0.001 mm). Saturation means the ratio between the volume of water and the volume of pores in the soil. Void ratio means the percentage between the volume of pores and the whole volume of the soil sample in natural state. Liquid limit and plastic limit mean the upper limit and lower limit of moisture content when the soil particles are in plastic state.