Towards a predictive model of the shear strength behaviour of fibre reinforced clay (2023)
Journal Article
Wang, J., Hughes, P. N., & Augarde, C. E. (2023). Towards a predictive model of the shear strength behaviour of fibre reinforced clay. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1080/19648189.2023.2214596

Randomly distributed fibres can be a potential reinforcement material to improve the shear strength of soils. However, gaps remain in experimental research and predictive modelling of the shear strength of fibre reinforced high plasticity clays. In l... Read More about Towards a predictive model of the shear strength behaviour of fibre reinforced clay.

Effects of fibre additions on the tensile strength and crack behaviour of unsaturated clay (2022)
Journal Article
Wang, J., Hughes, P. N., & Augarde, C. E. (2023). Effects of fibre additions on the tensile strength and crack behaviour of unsaturated clay. Ground Improvement, 176(2), 108-120. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgrim.21.00006

Desiccation cracking in clay soils is a combined mechanical and hydraulic problem and such soils can be improved by various methods including reinforcement with fibres. The relationships between tensile strength, cracking resistance and water-retenti... Read More about Effects of fibre additions on the tensile strength and crack behaviour of unsaturated clay.

Cross-linking of biopolymers for stabilising earthen construction materials (2021)
Journal Article
Muguda, S., Hughes, P., Augarde, C., Perlot, C., Bruno, A., & Gallipoli, D. (2022). Cross-linking of biopolymers for stabilising earthen construction materials. Building Research and Information, 50(5), 502-514. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2021.2001304

Biopolymers are promising potential soil stabilizers due to their ease of application and stabilization efficacy. Biopolymers are biologically occurring polymers that form hydrogels when added to soil in the presence of water. Hydrogels are three-dim... Read More about Cross-linking of biopolymers for stabilising earthen construction materials.

A comparative study of the effects of particle grading and compaction effort on the strength and stiffness of earth building materials at different humidity levels (2021)
Journal Article
Cuccurullo, A., Gallipoli, D., Bruno, A., Augarde, C., Hughes, P., & La Borderie, C. (2021). A comparative study of the effects of particle grading and compaction effort on the strength and stiffness of earth building materials at different humidity levels. Construction and Building Materials, 306, Article 124770. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124770

This paper presents an investigation of the mechanical properties of three different earth building materials manufactured by compacting two soils with distinct particle size distributions under two markedly different efforts. Multiple samples of eac... Read More about A comparative study of the effects of particle grading and compaction effort on the strength and stiffness of earth building materials at different humidity levels.

Earth stabilisation via carbonate precipitation by plant-derived urease for building applications (2020)
Journal Article
Cuccurullo, A., Gallipoli, D., Bruno, A., Augarde, C., Hughes, P., & La Borderie, C. (2022). Earth stabilisation via carbonate precipitation by plant-derived urease for building applications. Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment, 30, Article 100230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gete.2020.100230

Raw (unfired) earth represents a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional construction materials but its dissemination into building practice has been hindered by a relatively high vulnerability to water erosion. Enzyme induced carbonate... Read More about Earth stabilisation via carbonate precipitation by plant-derived urease for building applications.

Durability and hygroscopic behaviour of biopolymer stabilised earthen construction materials (2020)
Journal Article
Muguda, S., Lucas, G., Hughes, P. N., Augarde, C. E., Perlot, C., Bruno, A. W., & Gallipoli, D. (2020). Durability and hygroscopic behaviour of biopolymer stabilised earthen construction materials. Construction and Building Materials, 259, Article 119725. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119725

Earthen construction materials are often chemically stabilised in order to improve their durability against water-induced deterioration. However, chemical stabilisers like cement can negatively affect the hygroscopic behaviour and recyclability poten... Read More about Durability and hygroscopic behaviour of biopolymer stabilised earthen construction materials.

Geotechnical characterisation of recycled biopolymer-stabilised earthen materials (2019)
Conference Proceeding
Muguda, S., Hughes, P., Augarde, C., Perlot, C., Bruno, A., & Gallipoli, D. (2019). Geotechnical characterisation of recycled biopolymer-stabilised earthen materials.

Earthen structures (i.e. structural units manufactured from soil) are often regarded as sustainable forms of construction due to their characteristically low carbon footprint. Unstabilised earthen materials can easily be recycled or disposed, however... Read More about Geotechnical characterisation of recycled biopolymer-stabilised earthen materials.

Influence of particle grading on the hygromechanical properties of hypercompacted earth (2019)
Journal Article
Cuccurullo, A., Gallipoli, D., Bruno, A. W., Augarde, C., Hughes, P., & La Borderie, C. (2020). Influence of particle grading on the hygromechanical properties of hypercompacted earth. Journal of Building Pathology and Rehabilitation, 5(1), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41024-019-0066-4

Civil engineering research is increasingly focusing on the development of sustainable and energy-efficient building materials. Among these materials, raw (unfired) earth constitutes a promising option for reducing the environmental impact of building... Read More about Influence of particle grading on the hygromechanical properties of hypercompacted earth.

Advances in the Use of Biological Stabilisers and Hyper-compaction for Sustainable Earthen Construction Materials (2019)
Conference Proceeding
Muguda, S., Lucas, G., Hughes, P., Augarde, C., Cuccurullo, A., Bruno, A. W., …Gallipoli, D. (2019). Advances in the Use of Biological Stabilisers and Hyper-compaction for Sustainable Earthen Construction Materials. In B. V. Reddy, M. Mani, & P. Walker (Eds.), Earthen dwellings and structures (191-201). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8_17

In the majority of cases, earthen construction materials for real buildings require amendment to deliver suitable material properties, which could be some additional strength or resilience to erosion. In modern earthen construction, in India, Austral... Read More about Advances in the Use of Biological Stabilisers and Hyper-compaction for Sustainable Earthen Construction Materials.

The effect of ambient humidity on the stiffness and strength of a hyper-compacted silty clay for earth building (2018)
Conference Proceeding
Cuccurullo, A., Gallipoli, D., Bruno, A., La Borderie, C., Augarde, C., & Hughes, P. (2018). The effect of ambient humidity on the stiffness and strength of a hyper-compacted silty clay for earth building.

The effect of pore suction and water content on the engineering properties of partially saturated soils has been extensively studied by geotechnical researchers. It is well known that unsaturated soils become stiffer, stronger and less permeable as s... Read More about The effect of ambient humidity on the stiffness and strength of a hyper-compacted silty clay for earth building.

Preliminary study on use of biopolymers in earthen construction (2018)
Conference Proceeding
Muguda, S., Booth, S., Hughes, P., Augarde, C., Perlot, C., Bruno, A., & Gallipoli, D. (2018). Preliminary study on use of biopolymers in earthen construction.

Biopolymers are known to achieve significant soil stabilisation when working with small quan-tities. There have been studies understanding their effects on permeability, strength, compressibility and dura-bility, however, there are few studies explor... Read More about Preliminary study on use of biopolymers in earthen construction.

Mechanical properties of biopolymer-stabilised soil-based construction materials (2017)
Journal Article
Muguda, S., Booth, S. J., Hughes, P. N., Augarde, C. E., Perlot, C., Bruno, A. W., & Gallipoli, D. (2017). Mechanical properties of biopolymer-stabilised soil-based construction materials. Géotechnique Letters, 7(4), 309-314. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgele.17.00081

Soil-based construction materials are of interest as structural building materials due to their green credentials, as well as being present in many historical structures. For effective conservation of the latter, and to motivate greater uptake for ne... Read More about Mechanical properties of biopolymer-stabilised soil-based construction materials.