Concrete Dome Housing

[jayrod12]

Hey guys,

Just got a request from a supervisor to get some reading materials on designing dome housing. I'm looking for some guidance from anyone that has done these on some places to start and detailing to pay close attention to.

We haven't had the meeting with the client yet so the actual details including size, whether it is buried or not, etc have not been confirmed.

Any advice would be helpful,

 

[JStephen]

I drive by this place in Italy, Texas, down on I35, all the time:

http://www.monolithic.org/

 

[DamsInc]

Never seen one myself, but the book "Why buildings fall down" has a chapter dedicated to Binishell failures. This website I think does a pretty good job of outlining them:

https://failures.wikispaces.com/Binishell+Domes

 

[oldrunner]

Check out this architects website:

http://www.flyingconcrete.com/lloyd-turner.htm

We worked with him in the 70's with his blow up gourds being used a housing. It was an early use of ferro-cement. Check out Nervi (Italy). Turner and I had a project in Nigeria to build a small housing complex using this system. When Lloyd got out there, it turned out that the people didn't want round homes. There's also sound problems inside.

Lloyd built some example homes near the freeway near Los Gatos (which I think are gone now). Torroja from Mexico and Candela in Spain have good examples. I believe I'm the EOR on his personal home in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

For a really good system there is the old W-Panel system - 2, 3,5 or thicker center foam with 7/8" stucco (minimum 1000 psi)skins (sandwich panels). Think there is a company called In-Steel now. Goes up quickly, can use long panels for folded roof sections or high-walls. Minimum thickness 3". Believe there is already ICBO reports available. Actually about 40 year old system - we did a design manual for the now defunct W-Panel people.

 

[Medeski]

99% Invisible has a good program on them, and possibly some additional information.

Best,
Medeski