New Method for Historic Rammed-earth Wall Characterization: The Almohade Ramparts of Malaga and Seville

Abstract

The goal of this research is to propose a new method of characterizing rammed-earth walls.Based on their historic building materials properties,five broad test groups were establishedfor the characterization: chemical and mineralogical composition, physical properties,mechanical properties, particle size distribution, and dating. These determinations can, inturn, be grouped into two different types: instrumental techniques such as XRF, XRD, andSEM-EDX, as well as adaptations of standard methods (mainly UNE-EN standards) forapplication to these materials. As case studies where the proposed method is applied, wepresent our research on the rammed-earth walls in the ramparts of Seville and Malaga(Spain), clearly showing the method’s capacity for comparing and differentiating differentrammed-earth walls