STRENGTH OF REED FROM EGYPT

Reed is a natural material which grows in and on the water on rather p oor soils. It has been used for centuries, for instance in Egypt for c onstructing huts of various shapes, sometimes with clay rendering. In Europe, particularly along the coast, thatched reed roofs are used and they blend with the landscape. However, reed is known to be strong an d probably deserves more attention in modern construction. The design and construction of prototype buildings have shown [1] that prefabrica tion and a certain standardization may lead to a wider application of reeds. To this end, its material properties should be known more accur ately, including the variability of the properties and the influence o f moisture, growth, and density. It was the aim of this project [2] to test Egyptian reed and to expand our technical knowledge about it.