OUTDOOR CONDITIONS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a single-storey load-bearing straw-bale wall system which can be used in house, office and educational buildings to be constructed in particularly rural areas; whereby straw-bales are pre-compressed more effectively; which is not affected by outdoor weather conditions due to the fact that structural connection members -that are preferably polypropylene rope- are not used on the inner-outer surfaces; and can be constructed more quickly, economically and practically.

Background of the Invention

Today, brick infilled reinforced-concrete systems are commonly used in construction industry. Despite this prevalence, damage of the said members to the environment is high due to the fact that they require high energy in the manufacturing process and their recycles are problematic.

In recent years, interest for straw-bales as a building material especially in rural areas increases because of both economic and ecological reasons.

Straw-bales which provide heat, sound and fire insulations very well and are relatively inexpensive, are used in living areas such as single story houses, workplaces and educational buildings which are being built in rural areas. In addition, communities adopting ecological life in many parts of the world meet their needs for shelter by using this material. Living spaces made of straw-bales allow for quick and easy construction by using simple tools without requiring craftsmanship.

Two different building techniques are used today by using strawbales, namely straw-bale load-bearing and post & beam. .

In the first category load-bearing system, straw-bales are bonded by being laid on top of one another or lapped (tusk tenon) and they also create the structural system of the building. Dead and live loads (loads such as roof, wall, snow, wind, etc.) are transferred to the foundation by means of straw walls. Difference of a straw-bale than other building materials is that it has no physical stability against load and it is subjected to elastic deformation. The most important design problem of load- bearing straw buildings that should be solved is the wall height getting shorter upon the load imposed on thereof. This problem is solved by two methods. The first method is bolt system. In this system, iron rod passing through straw walls starting from the foundation is connected by the bolt over the beam which is usually made of timber, is located on top of the straw wall and lies on wall over the straw wall. By means of the compression provided, the wall is not subjected to elastic deformation anymore against loads imposed onto the wall afterwards such as roof and snow and carrying integrity and physical stability of walls are ensured. In the second method, the process of compressing the walls is done by using belts which again start from the base and are connected to the upper beam from the outer and inner periphery of the wall. The compression process is created by tensioning the belts. In both methods, resistance to lateral loads is aimed by driving wooden piles to the bales. Again after both methods, the building system is completed after roughcast and final rendering upon coating the walls by wire lath. The structure is completed upon the plaster coating makes the straw building system composite and monolithic. The plaster coating also protects the walls from outdoor conditions and fire. The said systems are far from being economic and practical due to extensive use of timber. Another disadvantages of bolt systems is that since the compressing process is carried out from the floor to the roof, levelling of the door and window cavities is becoming difficult and the compression adjustment mey be uneven within the surface.

The second category is known as the post & beam straw bale system and the straw- bales are only used as infill not as load-bearing in this system. The bales have no load carrying characteristic. Reinforced-concrete, steel, timber post and beam system creates the structure. The system is more expensive than the masonry system clue to the increase in the metarials used and labor consumed. However, in many countries building regulations, only allows the category of post and beam structured system.

The Turkish patent document no. TR201511158, an application in the state of the art, discloses a wall system wherein straw-bales are used. The said load-bearing wall system is mostly used at buildings in rural areas. With the inventive system, a structure resistant to loads is obtained by compressing straw-bales partially and as a whole. However, the fact that a large number of polypropylene ropes and compression members are used in the system disclosed in the said patent document extends the construction period of the walls. In addition, the fact that connection members -which are polypropylene ropes- are used on the inner and outer surfaces of the straw-bales causes these structural members to be affected by corrosion and outdoor conditions. Besides, using connection and compression members -which are preferably polypropylene rope- also increases the risk of maintaining the integrity of the load-bearing straw-bale wall system structurally.

Therefore, in the face of these problems encountered in the prior art; there is need for a load-bearing straw-bale wall system which has a more simple installation; thus constructed more quickly, economically and practically; allows the use of a less number of connection members; whereby walls of connection members that can be polypropylene rope do not project to the inner and outer surfaces of the walls; and thus the straw-bale walls are affected by outdoor conditions and corrosion at minimum level structurally and they are also protected from fire risk; and straws are compressed more effectively. Summary of the Invention

An objective of the present invention is to realize a load-bearing straw-bale wall system whereby single-storey house, office and educational buildings to be built particularly in rural areas are constructed simply and which ensures that they are constructed more quickly, economically and practically.

Another objective of the present invention is to realize a load-bearing straw-bale wall system whereby a less number and amount of connection and compression members are used due to the fact that polypropylene connection and compression members are not used on the inner and outer surfaces of the walls; straw-bale walls are not affected by corrosion and outdoor weather conditions due to the fact that the structural connection members do not project to the inner and outer surfaces of the walls.

Another objective of the present invention is to realize a load-bearing straw-bale wall system whereby fire risk is reduced due to the fact that polypropylene connection and compression members are not used on the inner and outer surfaces of the walls and a less number of connection members and compression members are used.

Another objective of the present invention is to realize a load-bearing straw-bale wall system which is structurally sound due to its reinforced structure by ensuring that straw-bales are compressed effectively.

Another objective of the present invention is to realize a load-bearing straw-bale wall system which ensures that house, office and educational buildings are constructed such that they will be environmentally friendly. Another objective of the present invention is to realize a load-bearing straw-bale wall system which enables the straw bales used to be compressed completely or locally as a wall in a desired amount.

Detailed Description of the Invention

“A Load-Bearing Straw-Bale Wall System Resistant to Outdoor Condions” realized to fulfil the objectives of the present invention is shown in the figures attached, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the inventive load-bearing straw-bale wall system;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the inventive load-bearing straw-bale wall system without straw-bales;

Figure 3 is a side partial cross-sectional perspective view of the inventive load-bearing straw-bale wall system;

Figure 4 is a partial detailed axonometric view of straw-bales placed on top of each other in the inventive load-bearing straw-bale wall system.

The components illustrated in the figure are individually numbered, where the numbers refer to the following:

1. Load-Bearing straw-bale wall system

2. Reinforced-concrete foundation

3. Fixing member

4. Straw-bale

5. Connection member

6. Support member

7. Compression member

8. Beam

9. Reinforcing member The inventive load-bearing straw-bale wall system (1) comprises:

at least one reinforced-concrete continuous foundation (2) which is located on the floor;

at least one fixing member (3) which is fixed onto the foundation (2); a plurality of straw-bales (4) which are placed onto the foundation (2) and one another such that they will cover the base (2) entirely and extend to a certain height;

at least one connection member (5) which is passed through the straw- bales (4) that are placed onto the foundation (2) and one another such that at least part of it will project from the straw-bales (4), provides resistance of the straw-bales (4) to the loads imposed on thereof by being compressed, and is connected to the fixing member (3) after it passes through the straw-bales (4) located on the foundation (2);

at least one support member (6) which is placed onto the straw-bales (4) such that it will extend among the straw-bales (4) placed on one another; at least one compression member (7) whereby the connection member

(5) projecting from the straw-bales (4) is fixed on the support member

(6) and which enables to compress the straw-bale (4), where the connection member (5) projects from, in desired amount after the connection member (5) is fixed on thereof; and

at least one beam (9) which is placed onto the said straw-bales (4) such that it covers the last row straw-bales (4) located on the top.

In a preferred embodiment of the inventive system (1), the connection member (5) carries out the transaction of compressing the straw-bales (4) by being passed through the lower and upper surfaces of the straw-bales (4) in order that they are not affected by outdoor conditions, corrosion and fire risk. The connection member (5) is not affected by outdoor conditions, corrosion and fire risk because it does not project outwards from the inner and outer surfaces of the straw-bales (4) composing the load-bearing wall. No compression member (7) is located on the inner and outer surfaces of the load-bearing straw-bales as well because the connection member (5) does not project outwards from the inner and outer surfaces of the straw-bales (4) composing the load-bearing wall. Thereby, a more simple wall system (1) is obtained by using less connection member (5) and compression member (7) and construction transaction is carried out in a quick, practical and economic way.

The inventive system (1) also comprises at least one reinforcing member (9) which is fixed to the foundation (2) and the beam (8), placed onto at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the load-bearing straw wall of the straw-bales (4) facing into the building or outside the building, and provides resistance of the straw-bales (4) to lateral loads. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing member (9) extends on the surfaces crosswise. The reinforcing member (9) extends on the surface of the straw-bale (4) such that it will be connected to the beam (8) from its end parts. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing member (9) is a reinforced-concrete construction iron.

The foundation (2) and the beam (8) included in the inventive system (1) preferably have a prism form such as rectangular prism, tetragonal prism made of reinforced- concrete. The foundation (2) and the beam (8) form a structural tensioning system by being connected to one another indirectly via the connection member (5), the support member (6) and the compression member (7).

The fixing member (3) included in the inventive system (1) is placed onto the foundation (2) and it enables the connection member (5) that is passed through the straw-bales (4) located on the foundation (2) to be fixed to the foundation (2). In the inventive system (1), the fixing member (3) is placed on the lower surface of the beam (8) and it enables the connection member (5) that is passed through the straw- bales (4) located under the beam (8) to be fixed to the beam (8). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixing member (3) is a hook made of a strong material such as iron, steel.

The straw-bales (4) included in the inventive system (1) are placed on top of one another starting from the top of the foundation (2) until the desired height of the building being constructed is achieved. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the straw-bales (4) are placed on top of one another such that they are lapped or straight.

The connection member (5) included in the inventive system (1) is passed through the straw-bales (4) placed one after the other. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection member (5) is passed through the straw-bales (4) by using straw-bale needle. Upon the connection member (5) is passed through the straw- bales (4), the straw-bales (4) are compressed in order that they can carry loads such as roof loads, snow loads imposed onto the straw-bales (4) and they are not deformed under the load.

The connection member (5) enables the straw-bales (4) to remain at a tension that is necessary for them to be compressed by passing the connection member (5) through the straw-bales (4) and being connected to the fixing members (3) located on the foundation (2) and under the beam (8) and to the support members (6) located between the straw-bales (4). In the preferred embodiment, the connection member

(5) ensures that the straw-bales (4) are compressed at a requested tension upon it is connected to the support members (6) located among the surfaces of the straw-bales (4). The connection member (5) compresses the straw-bales (4) preferably by being connected to the support members (6) located in the middle position of the surfaces remaining between the straw-bales (4). Thereby, a homogeneous compression area is created on the straw-bales (4).

The connection members (5) are passed through the straw-bales (4) such that the straw-bales (4) will only pass from the upper and lower surfaces thereof. The connection member (5) is located on the straw-bale (4) while the support member

(6) and the compression member (7) are located on it respectively. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection member (5) is a rope made of a polypropylene material.

In the inventive system (1), the support member (6) is placed such that it will extend in a horizontal plane among the straw-bales (4) placed onto one another in order to compress the straw-bales (4). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the support member (6) is a ribbed reinforced-concrete iron being used in constructions frequently.

In the inventive system (1), the compression member (7) is located on the support members (6) that are located on the connection member (5), which is passed through the straw-bales (4), inside the building. The compression member (7) ensures that the straw-bale (4) where the connection member (5) projects is compressed to a desired extend upon the compression member (7) is moved by being preferably rotated after it holds the part of the connection member (5) projecting to the lower and the upper surface of the straw-bale (4). Thus, the straw-bales (4) located in areas wherein there are openings such as window openings, door openings where the straw-bales (4) are subjected to different loads or wherein there are no openings such as building comer are compressed upon the compression member (7) stretches the connection member (5). Thus, it is possible to adjust the level of the compression applied to the said straw-bales (4) by means of using the compression member (7).

In construction of the inventive load-bearing straw-bale wall system (1), the foundation (2) is placed onto the floor at first. Then, the first straw-bales (4) are placed onto the foundation (2). By passing the connection member (5) through the first row straw-bales (4) via preferably a straw-bale needle while placing the first row straw-bales (4), the said connection member (5) is connected to the fixing member (3) located on the foundation (2) upon being passed through it and to certain support members.

The same process is also carried out for the second row straw-bales (4). The support member (6) located on the second row straw-bale (4) is wrapped by the connection member (5) over the second row straw straw-bale (4) through which the straw-bale needle is preferably passed previously. Thus, the connection member (5) wraps the two straw-bales (4) one after the other from the upper region where the support member (6) is located, from the lower region where the fixing member (3) is located and it again wraps the straw-bale (4) by the compression member (7) located on the support member (6) from the upper surface (Figure 4).

Depending on the pre-determined height of the building, other straw-bales (4) are also placed starting from the straw-bales (4) placed onto the foundation (2) until the desired height is reached. The support member (6) is placed between two straw- bales (4) while placing the straw-bales (4) on top of one another. The compression members (7) are placed on the pre-determined support members (6) located on the straw-bales (4) and it is tried to compress the straw-bales (4) at a requested tension by rotating the connection members (5) by means of the compression members (7). The connection members (5) are also applied for other row straw-bales (4) in a way and line such as in the first two rows.

The straw-bales (4) located in regions wherein different load will be imposed on the straw-bale (4) such as door openings and window openings in the building obtained enables to compress the connection member (5) whereto the compression member

(8) is connected is compressed to a desired extend by compressing it more or less. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, after the compressing process is carried out by means of the compression member (7), strength of the load-bearing straw wall obtained is increased by placing crosswise and/or vertical reinforcing members

(9) onto at least one of the surfaces of the straw-bales (4) facing into the building or outside the building. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection member (5) is prevented from effecting the compression amount of the related straw-bale (4) negatively by getting free from the compression member (7) involuntarily upon fixing the compression member (7) in a desired position by means of the locking member or connection placed onto the said support members (9). Lastly, the beam (8) enabling to close the upper surfaces of the said straw-bales (4), which are open outwards, onto the straw-bales (4) located on the top in the building obtained is placed. The beam (9) holds and compresses the straw-bales (4), which are located on the upper row, from above by means of the connection member (5) connected to the fixing member (3) located on the lower surface of thereof as such in the foundation (2). Due to the fact that the connection members (5) at different rows coincide with the support members (6) at different rows, a continuous connection is created from the foundation (2) to the beam (9) from top to bottom. In the system (1), accessories operate with traction whereas straw-bales (4) operate with pressure. When the inventive wall system (1) is composed, the system (1) is made monolithic by applying rough cast and final rendering onto the wire lath applied in the state of the art to the inner and outer surfaces of the straw-bales (4).

In the inventive system (1), compression levels of the straw-bales (4) can be adjusted as a whole wall or locally in part. Thus, problems arising from the fact that the straw-bales (4) known in the state of the art cannot be compressed adequately or they are compressed too much are overcome. By means of the inventive system (1), it is enabled to build a durable load-bearing straw-bale wall system (1) with less material and labour for less and quickly. It is possible to develop various embodiments of the inventive“A Load-bearing Straw-Bale Wall System Resistant to Outdoor Conditions (1)”; the invention cannot be limited to examples disclosed herein and it is essentially according to claims.