Re: design help with dome house problems - low income

"George Berz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Anthony McCafferty) wrote in message
news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> > In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED] (George Berz) writes:
> >
> > > need help with the theroy of the block design and load bearing of
> > >the concrete...
> > >
> > >Background...
> > >
> > >I want to design and build concrete igloos in the desert of west texas
> > >for low income people..
> >
> >      I think you have decided on a solution before you learned enough to
make a
> > good decision.
>
> Ok... here we go....
>
> 4 bag mix concrete with appropiately graded sand and rock, gives what
> psi of strength?
>
> now lets cut that in 1/2 for safetys sake
>
> lets assume you have a concrete foundation and you keyway it where the
> base comes in contact with the lowest blocks....
>
> the blocks have female holes in the top and bottom say 1" wide by 3"
> deep to which are inserted 6" of #3 rebar and theremainder of the hole
> is filled with cement upper and lower 1/2.
>
> Now when the blocks are about 3-4' high on a 20-24' dome you shore up
> the side walls with gravel and earth...
>
> Now mind you that there is a concrete foundation and blocks are
> keywayed into the foundation and the block walls pinned together are
> shored up with earth on the outside..
>
> This should alleviate the naysayers issue of the blocks walking out,
>
> Can we agree to this point?
>
> continue the way up and even on some upper blocks make a 6" hole in
> the middle for glass or plastic porthole type windows...
>
> And whenthe structure is done, spray it with 2" of 2lb polyurethane
> and paint a white uv coating on it.
>
> Now you have lotsa therml mass and shielded on the outside by r-14
> insulaion and waterproofing.
>
> Small wood stove inside for heat
>
> Large solar water heater made from scrap material to take showers with
> warm water in the evenings. 12v water pressure bump for on demand
> water.
>
> small restroom like in a rv, portable propane stove coleman type with
> a venting hood of course.
>
> Floresent lighting 12v  deep cycle batteries, 12v tv 13" and 1000 watt
> inverter for short term use.
>
> 1-2 hrs daily generator runtime for complex to recharge batteries..
>
> As far as people not wanting to live in them.... mabye not you... buy
> for lots of people it would be heaven.. running water, basic
> electricity.
>
> please remember i was homeless at times, i lived in a tent for 2
> months behind a apartment complex near UCLA, ive lived in a kitchen as
> a child, went to work at mc donalds when i was 13 with a forged birth
> certificate cause i was hungry, at the same time i was a morning
> janitor at the middle school (private) for 2.5 hrs daily in exchange
> for my tuition. because i did not wantto get beat up at public schools
> in LA anymore.
>
> Believe me if i built them finding people to occupy them would not be
> a problem.
>
> We have to so something about homelesness and helping people off
> welfare... we cannot afford as a society to forget the poor.
>
> by the way ive made it my own with no handouts and never took
> welfare., now do quite well and want to bounce out and do some thing
> that is right...
>
> And im not trying to build something unsafe, thats why the post here,
> i was hoping for some encouragement and a little prod in the right
> direction on how to make this happen and not get bagged on...
>
> why texas, no codes no zoning= no red tape = easy to do without
> shelling out millions in bribes and rezoning and homeowners committies
> archetictual review, planning review fees, permit and inspection
> fees... not to mention and I know this is goona piss people off UNION
> wage scale for govt funded prodjects.
>
> Can we agree it would be better than living in a tent or car?
>
> Bottom line to find any construction method that dosent use up lots of
> natural resources, is inexpensive, the average person can do with
> little to no training, and is termite proof, rot proof, fireproof,
> vandal roof... id love to shotcrete a monolithic dome however it
> requires lots of rebar and EXPENSIVE machinery and expensive concrete.
>
> 20 ' dome house (bachelor pad or struggling family)
> surface area of sphere = x 6" cheap concrete 1256' /2 halfsphere =
> 628' /2 for 6" thick 314' /27 = 12 yard * $24 a yard $288
>
> double it for adding strong foundation Now your at $600 for basic
> floor and celing, caluk joints for basic water tightness add toilet
> sink and shower your a little over $1000.00
>
> If I did thelabor free myself, how many could be built by church
> groups, etc..
>
> We are talking about the possibility to let someone have shelter
> forever for what some pay in monthly rent to "the man" and his
> cronies.
> Sorry to babel on and on but im ready to quit my job to persue this
> goal once i know it will work...
> George
I think a rectagular design would give you a lot less grief and provide more
usable space per dollar. A square concrete box with a light weight roof is
safer than a dome with a concrete roof.
You should consider the tip-up panal design.
SSR