Sustainable Building•6 min read
The Thermal Behavior of Rammed Earth in the Palghat Gap
Quantifying 7.4-hour thermal phase shift in western Tamil Nadu’s microclimate
Stabilized monolithic subsoil walls delay peak ambient solar heat by 7.4 hours, dampening diurnal swings from 38°C to a stable 25°C without mechanical HVAC systems.
Key Material Findings
- Volumetric heat capacity of 1,840 kJ/m³·K outperforms standard wire-cut brickwork by 34%.
- Stabilization with 6% hydraulic lime avoids brittle cement micro-cracking under shear.
- Thermal lag releases absorbed daytime heat during cool 02:00–06:00 night breezes.
Er. Karthik Sundaram · Structural Research LeadOctober 2024
