Thesis (BS Architecture) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, June 2016.

Stabilized rammed earth is an alternative form of wall construction that uses the rammed earth technique, but includes cement, primarily as an additive to change the material's physical characteristics. This research study reports on the results of the inclusion of recycled agricultural wastes; namely coconut coir and rice hull ash, on the material development of a stabilized rammed earth wall and identifying the best mixture ration for the rammed earth sample blocks. Four sample blocks namely: RE1, RE2, RE3 and RE4 were identified based on various mixture design ratios of cement-coconut coir-rice hull ash. The soil sample from the Human Kinetics Center of the University of the Philippines in Mindanao was tested and the results showed that stabilization was necessary for rammed earth construction. The sample blocks created per mixture design were subjected to compressive strength test, water absorption test, and water submersion test. Most of the blocks had a fast rate of water absorption, exhibited major damages in water submersion, and had low compressive strength, except for RE 2 block. The cost for the construction of a rammed earth wall and concrete hollow block wall piling was also estimated and compared. Result show that CHB wall piling is cheaper and less labor extensive but the rammed earth wall construction had the most economical and environment-friendly method of construction by using readily available on-site material and recycled agricultural wastes. Overall, the stabilization techniques through cementation and reinforcement has proven its effectiveness in the construction of rammed earth wall and acquired great potential to be proposed as an alternative building material. The study also identified that the rammed earth wall construction method used in this research are most suited for non-load bearing walls.