Resources Tagged: Vita

128 items found (Showing 91 - 100) |

  1. Understanding Ferrocement Construction

    1988-01-01 Ferrocement is a building material composed of a relatively thin layer of concrete, covering such reinforcing material as steel wire mesh. Because the building techniques are simple enough to be done by unskilled labor, ferrocement is an attractive construction method in areas where labor costs...
    Downloads VITA Construction Design & Construction Ferrocement

  2. Understanding Stabilized Earth Construction

    1984-01-01 Soil is one of the oldest building materials. It has been used for centuries in all parts of the world. Ancient temples, fortifications, and pyramids as well as part of the Great Wall of China were built with soil. The three traditional methods of soil construction are: adobe block or lumps built...
    Downloads VITA Construction Soil Health Stabilized Earth

  3. Understanding Small-Scale Brick Making

    1990-01-01 Sun-dried earthen blocks (adobe) have been used as a building material for thousands of years, especially in very dry areas. Clay is mixed with water, and sometimes straw to keep the finished blocks from cracking, and formed by hand into blocks. The blocks are placed in the sun until they are...
    Downloads VITA Brickmaking Bricks Small Scale

  4. Portland Cement

    1988-01-01 The Product. To make Portland cement, a crushed mixture of limestone and clay is heated to form "clinker," which is mixed with gypsum and ground to a fine, dehydrated powder. Quality control is essential during manufacture. The cement is shipped in moisture-resistant bags or other containers, or...
    Downloads Concrete VITA Cement Cement Industries

  5. Understanding Adobe Mud Constuction

    1985-01-01 Every low-cost housing project seeks to build the most durable house at the lowest cost possible. Emphasis is always given to the maximum use of locally available materials, such as adobe. Common adobe, as it has been known for centuries, is simply a soil mixture with a clay content of at least...
    Downloads VITA Construction Design & Construction Mud adobe

  6. Bamboo Construction

    1985-01-01 Bamboo is one of the oldest materials people have used to increase their comfort and well-being. In today's world of plastics and steel, besides continuing to make its traditional contributions, bamboo is growing in importance. Outstanding varieties of bamboo from throughout the world are being...
    Downloads Sustainable Buildings VITA Bamboo Construction Construction Bamboo

  7. Understanding Small-Scale Bridge Building

    1990-01-01 Bridges are a part of the transportation system of a region. They are used to span an obstacle like a stream or chasm. Bridges make the system more efficient either by saving travel distance or by enabling vehicles or pedestrians to reach places that were previously inaccessible. There are four...
    Downloads VITA Construction Design & Construction Building Small Scale Bridges

  8. Small Ceramics Plant

    1988-01-01 The investment and labor force required for this plant are very small. The objects are decorated with the application of ceramic colors, engobes, and stains, all of which can be purchased initially in the United States, England, France, or Germany, and later fabricated by the potter. The local...
    Downloads VITA Small Scale Ceramic

  9. Concrete Construction

    1965-01-01 Concrete is a strong and inexpensive construction material when it is properly prepared and used. This introduction explains the importance of a good mixture and describes the materials used in the mixture. Following this are entries on: Calculating amounts of materials for concrete Mixing...
    Downloads VITA Consruction Design & Construction Concrete

  10. Understanding Clay Recognition And Processing

    1984-01-01 Clay occurs naturally almost everywhere in the world and is formed by the action of weathering on several kinds of rocks. This process takes many thousands of years, but it happens wherever the rocks are exposed to the natural forces of wind, water, frost, etc. The rocks change very slowly in...
    Downloads VITA Clay Processing Clay products Clay