ABSTRACT
The rammed earth particles are the alloying elements of mud brick. The clay minerals coming in contact with increasing amounts of water, start increasing their volume, then they become loose (higher plasticity) and at the end they are dispersed in a suspension of water. For these reasons, the most damage to adobe structures are attributable to water, especially when it is abundant and in liquid form (rain and standing water). The wet clay becomes impermeable and the excess rain flows over the surface, carrying away suspended material and digging preferential channels that are eroded more and more quickly because they are subject to a greater concentration of water.
