There is something magically compelling about straw bales, however, so
I'll join in the discussion instead. Responding to Mike's question about
seismic loading, I thought I'd share a comment from Bruce King's new book
on structural engineering with earth and straw (Chelsea Green Press,
distributor, reviewed in EBN Vol. 6, No. 2). King says:
"...we've scarcely begun to explore the potential of the straw bales
alone to serve as structural material...(The only other materials that
can be compressed to half of their height and still be in the elastic
range are steel springs and the family of rubber compounds. Maybe someone
will start making seismic vibration isolators from bales, for they seem
to have all the right qualities.)" --p.131
Nadav
>Third, what are the structural characteristics? If straw bale is used as
>infill in a post-and-beam wall, are the bales adding anything to the
>load-bearing capability of the wood frame? To earthquake resistance? Where
>bales form the structure, how would they respond to seismic loading? What
>about shrinkage? How do you plaster a wall that's going to get shorter?
>
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