Straw bale constructions are considered a promising solution towards the goal of decarbonisation of the building sector. In particular, its use as alternative thermal insulation and load-bearing material has been promoted. This study provides a thorough review of material properties of straw bale including mechanical, thermophysical, and hygric. Furthermore, mechanical, hygrothermal, energy and acoustical performance, as well as life cycle assessment of straw bale constructions, are reviewed and discussed. The critical evaluation of the recent research confirms that straw bales can provide satisfactory results as thermal insulation material compared to conventional materials, while in parallel reflecting a high potential for constructions with low embodied emissions. The potential of the straw bale is tackled by the lack of consistent representation of material properties, which is controversial to the significant amount of the relevant scientific results that have been reported during the last years. This review provides a systematic framework that can function as the basis for future research on straw bales as a building material.
Authors:
- Koh, Chuen Hon (Alex)
- Kraniotis, Dimitrios
Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950061820323904
