The Role of Straw in Sustainable Construction : Mechanical Analysis of Timber-Straw Wall Panels

Abstract

This thesis, commissioned by EcoCocon s.r.o., investigates the use of straw as a building material in the sustainable construction industry, with a focus on the structural testing of timber-straw wall panels. Due to increasing environmental concerns and the growing demand for low-carbon construction, modern building practices are expected to utilize more sustainable and efficient materials. The primary objective of this research is to examine the mechanical behaviour of straw, including its compressive force, and Poisson’s ratio. To investigate this, compression tests were conducted with the use of the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) method, a non-contact optical measurement technique. In the experiment described in this thesis, the DIC method captures the behaviour of the straw used as an infill in the EcoCocon panels. The outcome of this thesis consists of a comprehensive review of existing research related to straw construction and the study of straw's mechanical behaviour as a construction material, followed by the characterization of the testing process and the adopted methodology used to determine the characteristic compressive force and Poisson's ratio of straw.