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Horse Dung and Soil Based Composites for Construction of Aesthetic Shelves
in Rural Homes of Western Rajasthan

Article  in  Journal of Environmental Nanotechnology · June 2017

DOI: 10.13074/jent.2017.06.172245

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Raj Kumar Satankar Amrita Nighojkar

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 J. Environ. Nanotechnol.
Volume 6, No.2(2017) pp. 43-47
ISSN (Print): 2279-0748
ISSN (Online): 2319-5541
doi:10.13074/jent.2017.06.172245
Horse Dung and Soil Based Composites for Construction of Aesthetic
Shelves in Rural Homes of Western Rajasthan
R. K. Satankar1*, Amrita Kaurwar2, Sandeep Gupta3, Anand Plappally4
*1,2,3,4
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Old residency Road, Ratanada,
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.

Abstract

Horse dung and clayey soil blended in presence of water are the base materials for aesthetic shelf
construction. Women are the knowledge bearers of this construction technology. This technology is almost
obsolete and requires revival. This paper details the materials, compositional features, process and
techniques in the manufacture of this composite material. With curing and aging this composite gains
compressive strength and is at par with the conventionally available cement products and which are
environment friendly. It also implies substitution of this low cost composite material instead of cement
products in construction. A novel method to manage horse dung as a resource is also enumerated.

Keywords: Aesthetic Construction; Compressive Strength; Horse Dung.

1. INTRODUCTION materials for houses is also an important consideration.

Only the problem of earth based construction is that it
Concrete is a common building material due its suffers is rapid decay due to climatic forces of
versatile properties and ease of availability (Savastano, precipitation, winds and temperature at a specific
2009). Recently, cement was found to leave high location and internal psychrometric parameter
carbon footprint compared to other natural materials fluctuations due to moisture (Gouny et al. 2013).
(Worrell et al. 2001). In order to reduce cement usage
citing environmental problem recycled industrial, agro The Fig. 1 shows the traditional formed walls to
and human waste are used as its substitute (Savastano alleviate rainfall damage of the mud wall. The wall
et al. 2000). Substitution of regular construction shown is aesthetically yet engineered with pathways in
material with locally available material, adopting low the shape of an inverted alphabet V. The inverted V
cost construction ways may help to reduce cost of allows the water to flow on hand impressed pathways
construction, (Jin et al. 2015). They may alleviate and restrict flow only through the engineered pathways.
effects of seismic forces (Arsene et al. 2003). These composites used in construction are also found to
keep inside temperature cool during summer and warm
Corn cob powder based aggregates are being during winters. The similar composites may also be
used for producing light weight concrete masonry adopted from traditional pottery making process, for
structures (Faustino et al. 2015). Following the similar example the recent innovation named G-filter for water
practice presently many developing countries where filtration (Kaurwar et al. 2017, Soyam et al. 2016).
there is the possibility of producing cementitious
composites from locally available material fulfill the The women of Western Rajasthan learned this
need to explore new ways of producing robust building technology from their ancestors (Satankar et al. 2017).
materials whichcause CO2 emission leads to global They also traditionally use thoroughly mixed composite
warming (Mustafa, 2015). made out of equal volumes of horse dung (HD) and
local soil (meth mitti) to construct aesthetic,
The utilization of traditional materials also helps lightweight, cantilever shelves on the walls to store the
to alleviate the pain of high energy expenditure for crockery items and utensils of daily use (Satankar et al.
modern building construction (Satankar et al.2017; Jin 2017). They suggest this technique citing the composite
et al. 2015). The rural people focus on aesthetics in materials medicinal properties to prevent the spread of
design more than engineering aspects of sustainability microbial infection within the household (Satankar et
(Satankar et al. 2017). The durability of construction al. 2017).
* R. K. Satankar Tel. no.: +914244542501
email: [email protected]
 R. K. Satankar et al. /J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Vol. 6(2), 43-47, (2017)

microstructural characteristics of raw material were

identified using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
(EVO18 special edition Carl Zeiss).

3.2 Curing Test

HDSis kept under observation for change in its

weight for a period of 28 days(Wilby, 1977). Each
HDS sample was weighed at regular intervals using
standard electronic weighing machine (Model Virgo,
Danwer Scales, India) of accuracy 0.01g. The
atmospheric temperature and humidity, were measured
using a MEXTECH make meter (M288CTHW,
MEXTECH, India).

3.3 Density Measurement

Fig. 1: Rural house with aesthetic wall of mud (Courtesy:
Arna Jharna Museum, Rupayan Sansthan, Paota, To analyze the effect of soil & horse dung
Jodhpur, Rajasthan) (percent by volume) fraction on the strength
characteristic on the composite the density were
This article elaborates the material measured using classical formula for measurement of
characterization of horse dung (HD) which is used in density, which is
the manufacture of the composite. The simple curing of
the composite is studied with weight loss phenomenon Density =
( )
(1)
with time. The compressive strength of the horse dung ( )
soil (HDS) composite is compared with other manmade
engineering materials. The stress intensity (fracture of varying compositions. All the measurement of
toughness) property of HDS composite is also weights was done using the same weight measurement
discussed. device (Model Virgo, Danwer Scales, India).

3.4 Compression Test

2. SAMPLE PREPARATION
The 28 day cured samples of different HDS
The raw materials for HDS include horse dung compositions at different ages of size 50 mm x 25 mm
and meth mitti. HDS contains soil and horse dung in x 12.5 mm underwent compression tests. These
proportions by volume, viz. 30:70 (or 30–70), 40:60 (or samples were testedon universal testing platform
40–60), 50:50 (or 50-50) & 60:40 (or 60-40) (Model EZ50 Lloyd instrument, Germany). A loading
respectively. Before mixing, the horse dung & Meth rate of 3.5 N/s was used (Satankar et al. 2017).
Mitti both were manually sieved using a fine mesh wire
sieves (Satankar et al. 2017). The soil was soaked in 3.5 Fracture Toughness
sufficient quantity of water for 24 hours and then
blended with powdered horse dung (Satankar et al. Different composites of distinct HDS
2017). The resulting dough was then formed into a compositions were tested using Mode 1 fracture tests
rectangular shape of size (250mm x 250mm x 20mm). using single edge notched bend (SENB) specimens.
The resulting shapes were exposed to open The specimens were made and tested according to the
environment (temperature of 35 °C, humidity of 42% guidelines given for test specimen preparation
and stand still air conditions) for about 28days with procedure in ASTM standard E399-81.These samples
regular observation on change in weather condition as were tested on universal testing platform (Model EZ50
well as change in weight and dimension (Satankar et al. Lloyd instrument, Germany) at a 3N/s loading rate
2017). (Satankar et al. 2017).

3. EXPERIMENTAL METHODOLOGY 4. RESULTS & DISCUSSIONS

3.1 Material Characterization 4.1 Material Characterization

Samples of raw material of HDS i.e. horse dung The SEM analysis of HD shown in Fig 2 indicates a
and meth mittiwere ground to powder to make them calcium rich substance. The white flakes adhering on to
suitable for various characterization techniques. The a not so dark base are nano particles of calcium

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 R. K. Satankar et al. /J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Vol. 6(2), 43-47, (2017)

carbonate (Satankar et al. 2017). Nanoparticles of 4.3 HDS Density Variation

CaCO3 adhered to cellulose content provides HD with
charactristics of a biocement thus influencing strong Fig. 4 shows percentage change in HDS
fibrous network (Cho et al. 2016). An increase in HD composite sample density at the age of 28. The samples
would prevent HDS failures due to bending (K-tron, with 50% HD reflect highest change in density among
2014).The presence of calcium carbonate will also all other samples of distinct compositions. Low values
influence surface finish and help decrement in surface of density of HDS composite are widely adopted in
energy of HDS composite (Satankar et al. 2017) . This rural areas due their better heat conduction property
will also help in preparing strong manure cakes which during summer.
may disintegrate slowly in soil.

Fig. 2: SEM image showing white nano-flakes of calcium Fig. 4: % Change in density of HDS composite samples at
carbonate in the organic HD base the age of 28days

4.2 HDS Curing Experiment Analysis 4.4 HDS Compressive Strength Analysis

Weight loss gradient was found to be steep The compression plot as a function of density
during first week for all HDS samples. This falling for engineering materials in Fig. 5 illustrated a highly
gradient is about 25-39%. Curing rate hence was dense low compressive strength material. Compressive
considered to peak during the first week while it strength of the HDS composite varies from 0.7 Mpa to
slowed down from second week onwards. The samples 2.1 Mpa. Density may vary from 1120 to 1980 kg/m3
containing more volume fraction of HD comparatively (Satankar et al. 2017).
weighed less.

Fig. 5: Compressive strengthas a function of density of

HDS compared to other engineering
materials(CES Edupack, Granta Design, IIT
Fig. 3: Weight loss of HDS composite samples with time Jodhpur Licensed)

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 R. K. Satankar et al. /J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Vol. 6(2), 43-47, (2017)

In the case of design of small cantilever shelves, research works. We thank DST and SERB for the
the compressive strength does not play a pivotal role above work from the grant with File no.
but tensile loading character is pertinent. The HDS due YSS/2014/000576.
to its high density and low compressive strength can
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