Seismic performance of adobe construction

Adobe buildings exist all over the world as these are economically constructed with cheaper earthen materials. This paper compares the construction practices of adobe buildings in Pakistan with those in other parts of the world. The data of adobe material properties available in the literature have been reviewed and compiled. The observed failure modes of the adobe buildings in Pakistan from recent earthquakes are correlated with those that have been documented in the literature. A review of numerical studies on the seismic behaviour of adobe structures from different parts of the world is carried out and their limitations are identified.