INTERNATIONALJOURNALOFAPPLIEDENGINEERINGRESEARCH,DINDIGUL

Volume1,No1,2010
Copyright2010AllrightsreservedIntegratedPublishingAssociation
REVIEWARTICLEISSN09764259

DisasterResistantRuralHouseDesignForLowIncomePeople
K.Mahendran1 A.ZahirHussain2
DepartmentofCivilEngineeringandruraltechnology,
GandhigramRuralUniversity,Dindigul
zahircivil@rediffmail.com

ABSTRACT
India has been facing natural disasters like drought, flood, cyclone, storm surge and
earthquake every year in different parts of the country. These disasters cause large scale
damages, destructions, death, injuries to human and animals. The non engineered houses
constructed by the people are mostly damaged due to lack of technical guidance and
affordability. Considering the growth of non engineered housing, and the damage level of
housingduetodisasters,itisessentialtodevelopaappropriatehousingmodelwhichresists
thedisasterforces.Thispaperdescribesthemethodofconstructingruralhousingusinglow
costtechniques.
Keywords: Ruralhousing,earthquakeresistantstructures,disaster.
1.Introduction
India has been facing natural disasters like drought, flood, cyclone, storm surgeand
earthquake every year in different parts of the country. These disasters cause large scale
damages, destructions, death, injuries to human and animals. The non engineered houses
constructed by the people are mostly damaged due to lack of technical guidance and
affordability. Considering the growth of non engineered housing, and the damage level of
housingduetodisasters,itisessentialtodevelopaappropriatehousingmodelwhichresists
thedisasterforces.Thispaperdescribesthemethodofconstructingruralhousingusinglow
costtechniques.
2.ProblemsonRuralHousing
Theruralhousesarepredominantlybuiltwiththelocallyavailablematerialslikemud,
bamboo,tilesandthatches.Thesematerialsarenotdurableandgetdamagedduetoheavy
rain and windblows. The projected eaves of the roof are alsodamaged due to heavy wind
velocity. During cyclone the pyramidal shape roofs are damaged due to uplift forces
developedby cyclone .The light roof structureshaving inadequate Jbolts and absence of
windbracingandlackofties,inadequatesheetthickness,fasteningandinsufficientfrequency
ofthefastenerscontributetothedamages,eventhepermanenthousesconstructedwithRCC
andbrickwallsarealsoaffectedduetotheexcessivecorrosionofsteelinthestructures.The
roof slab having inadequate thickness of roof concrete and low self weight which causes
tensionatthetopduetothesuctioneffectofthewindinwherehairlinecracksdeveloped,
TheseRCconcreteexposedtothe
atmospheresaregettingrustedandultimatelycausesroofintocollapse.Theunsymmetrical
houseshaveshownheavydamageswhenitcomparedtosymmetricalplanaboutitsbothaxis.
The effects of wind tunnel on the streets and housing plan arrangements are the factors to
decidethedamagelevelduringdisasters.Theunreinforcedmasonrywallsarealsofailsdue
toexcessivetension.Sometimesthetimberrafteraredestroyedbythewhiteantsandlosses
itssectionandleadstocollapseatthetimeofdisasters.Theunscientificinstallationofroof
tiles,thedoorsandwindowslatches,hingesandboltsarevulnerablehardwareandfasteners
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INTERNATIONALJOURNALOFAPPLIEDENGINEERINGRESEARCH,DINDIGUL
Volume1,No1,2010
Copyright2010AllrightsreservedIntegratedPublishingAssociation
REVIEWARTICLEISSN09764259

during the disaster. The cantilever parapets and the light weight verandah roof, improper
connectionsofwallswithfootingsarethemostsusceptibletohighspeedwind.Thesittingof
buildingontheterrainconditionslikehills,valley,ridgesinthewindwardside,leewardside
arethefactorsinfluencingthedamagelevelofstructure.
1.3BasicRequirmentOfCycloneResistantBuildings
Basedontheabovefactsthehousingplan,designandexecutionsshouldbecarriedout
consideringthefollowing.
1. Avoidalowpitchedroof
2. UseofHiproof(or)HighPitchedgableroof
3. Avoidoverhangingroofs.
4. Cycloneshutterstobeintroducedintheopeningplaces.
5. Minimizetheprojectionofeaves.
6. Recommendedsteelreinforcementshouldbeprovidedinthewallasseismicband
inverticalandhorizontaldirections.
7. The foundation of the building should be designed by taking bearing capacity
underthesoilstrataconditionsandalsocheckedtheupliftpressure.
8. Thewallshouldresistthehorizontalforcesdevelopedbycyclone.
9. The joints are the vulnerable points should be properly designed and inter
connectionisessential.
10.The self weight of roof should be increased to counteract the uplift pressure
developedbythecyclone,thestructuralcomponentsinterconnectedandanchored
withthefoundationssothattheentirebuildingshouldbeactasoneunit.
11.Theoverhangingroofsevesprojectionsarerestricted.
12.Theslopedroofispreferableratherthanflatroofandlowpitchedroofaretobe
avoided
13.Inthecostalareathesteelsectionshouldbeprotectedfromcorrosionandusethe
anti corrosion reinforcement for the buildings. The cover for the reinforcement
andqualityofconcreteareensuredfordurability.
1.4DesignOfModelRuralHouse
Whiledesigningthesocioeconomicstatus,presentlivingpattern,traditionalshape
of existing the structures, type of labours and materials availability are considered for
developingahousedesign,
PlanForm:
Simple square / rectangle plan has been adopted in the design. A square
symmetricalandcompactplanformismorestablethanazigzagplan,andis
lesspronetowindcyclonedamages.
Theplanprovidesaninvitingentranceverandahunitsaseatout,leadingtothe
multipurposelivingroomwhichisalsogenerallyusedforstoringcloths,
householdutensiletc.
Thekitchenisattachedtotherearsidebutdonothaveadoor.
Atoiletatbackyardhasbeenproposedandseparatedformthemainhouse.
Foundation:
StripfootingwithRCbandof100mmthicktothewidthofbrickmasonryistobe
providedallalongtheportionandconnectedtotheRCBand.
GradeBeam230mmx75mmhasbeenprovidedatthegroundlevelandplinthbeam
hasbeenprovidedattheplinthlevelinthedesign.
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Volume1,No1,2010
Copyright2010AllrightsreservedIntegratedPublishingAssociation
REVIEWARTICLEISSN09764259

Theverticalreinforcement(anchoragebarsof10mmrod)atthecornersandjamsof
doorsandwindowshasbeenprovidedfromthegroundlevelbeam.
Walling:
Theexteriorbrickwallsareprovidedwithhorizontalandverticalreinforcingbars
connectedwithconcretebandtoresistthehorizontalpressureandcontinuouslintelbeamhas
beenprovided.Theheightofthebuildingkeptas3000mm.
Roofing:
As per thediscussion on the failureofbuildings during the disasters, the suction on
flatroofismuchmorethanslopingroofandmanyoftheroofstructurearefailisduetotheir
lessweightandpooranchorage.Thepyramidalorhippedroofhavingsymmetricalslopeon
both areas are flat roof with more self weight are the appropriate solution for the roof.
Therefore100thickreinforcedconcreteslabwithM20gradearesuggested.

TYPE
MODEL1
MODEL2
MODEL3

Table1: SpecificationDetails ofmodelhouses.

FOUNDATION
WALLING
ROOFING
StripFoundation
EnglishBondwall
R.C.C.Slab
StripFoundation
RatTrapbond
BrickPanel
wall
StripFoundation
StabilizedMud
FerroCement
Block
Channel

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INTERNATIONALJOURNALOFAPPLIEDENGINEERINGRESEARCH,DINDIGUL
Volume1,No1,2010
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REVIEWARTICLEISSN09764259

MODEL1
230.00

FLOORINGCONCRETE

2700.00

SANDFILLING

600.00

G.L

G.L
150

150
150
100

SECTIONONAA

ELEVATION

AREAOFTHEBUILDING:30.23SQM

W
D1

230.00

BEDROOM
3000x2400

TOILET
3000x1200

J1
SCHEDULEOFJOINERY

3000

5075.0

DDOOR900X2000

CUPBOARD

D1DOOR750X2000

115

1500

KITCHEN
W
O HALL
J 1500x2400
3000x3300

WWINDOW900X1200
JR.C.JALLY900X600

230

2400.00
230.00

3000.00

J1R.C.JALLY600X600

115.00
5975.00

PLAN

Figure1:Planshowingthefirsttypeofproposedmodel

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INTERNATIONALJOURNALOFAPPLIEDENGINEERINGRESEARCH,DINDIGUL
Volume1,No1,2010
Copyright2010AllrightsreservedIntegratedPublishingAssociation
REVIEWARTICLEISSN09764259

MODEL2
230.00

FLOORINGCONCRETE

2700. 00

SANDFILLING

600.00

G.L

G.L

150
150

150
100

SECTIONONAA

ELEVATION

AREAOFTHEBUILDING:30.23SQM

W
D1

230. 00

BEDROOM
3000x2400

TOILET
3000x1200

J1
SCHEDULEOFJOINERY

3000

DDOOR900X2000

5075.0

CUPBOARD

D1DOOR750X2000

115

1500

KITCHEN
1500x2400 O

HALL
3000x3300

WWINDOW900X1200
JR.C.JALLY900X600

230

2400.00

J1R.C.JALLY600X600

3000.00

230.00

115. 00
5975.00

PLAN

Figure 2:Planshowingthesecond typeofproposedmodel

MODEL3
230.00

FERROCEMENTCHANNELS
FL OORINGCONCRETE

2700.00

SANDFILLING

600. 00

G.L

G.L

150
150

150
100

SECTIONONAA

ELEVATION

AREAOFTHEBUILDING:30.23SQM

W
D1

230.00

BEDROOM
3000x2400

TOILET
3000x1200

J1
SCH EDULEOFJOINERY

3000

5075.0

DDOOR900X2000

CU PBOARD

D1DOOR750X2000

115

1500

KITCHEN
1500x2400

HALL
3000x3300

W
WWINDOW900X1200
JR.C.JALLY900X600

230

2400. 00
230.00

3000.00

J1R.C.JALLY600X600

115. 00
5975. 00

PLAN

Figure 3:Planshowingthe third typeofproposedmodel

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REVIEWARTICLEISSN09764259

3.ResultsandDiscussion
Theaboveshownplanaresomeoftheproposedplansthatcanbeusedwhile
constructinghousesintheareasofdisasterpronezones.Thiswillnotonlysafeguardthe
structurebutalsowillsavelotofpeopleslives.RuraltechnologyCenterofGandhigram
Universityisconductinglotofresearchworksintheareasofruralconstruction,thistypeof
modelhouseswereconstructedandtestedinourcampus.
4.References
1. GuidelinesforcycloneresistantconstructionofBuildingsinGujarat,GujaratState
DisastermanagementAuthority,GovernmentofGujarat.December 2001
2. GuidelinesforreconstructionsofhousedaffectedbyTsunamiinTamilNadu byA.R.
SanthaKumaretalSeptember2005.
3. I.S.456 2000CodeofPracticefor PlainandReinforceConcrete Codeof practice.
4. InternationalAssociationforEarthquakeEngineeringTOKYOTheGuidelinesfor
EarthquakeResistantNon EngineeredConstructionA.S.ARYA,etalOctober
1986,ReprintbyIndianSocietyofEarthquakeTechnology,Roorkee247667..
5. Improvingwind/cycloneResistantbuildingsGuidelinesbyA.S.Aryaetal 1999

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