Ferrocement
is an art form
of tension and compression, blending advantages of stone and metal
into imaginative, cost effective structure. (Structural
plastics and many other additives are also finding their way into artful
composites based on cements.) Here
are
some
pictures of what became imaginatively possible.
2009
2009 
2007
Above: one-man's labor with hindsight creativity providing solutions.
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Dreamer's Geometry: Concave Catenary Subdivision of a Roof
Below: Roof
Garden Home With Hanging Garden Arbor Concept
Below:
CAD study for balanced- tilt-up construction.
Quick, "how to solve models" via
the www is offered freely as a public service, where possible, just ask!
(As time permits). Reasonable rates for highly customized, computer-accurate, 3D modeling. High resolution graphics and plans made to order.
Below: A Gothic X Arches (For better or worse called a Groin Vault.)
Updates are occasionally
added to this website.
An automated dream
building method.
Using software as form work for concrete.
Camera Lucida: This
secret of the masters should work beautifully for sculptural concrete and
ferrocement.
While scalloping uses more surface
area, it also engenders a framing component. Shells are reinforced by the
surface
corrugation. More surface can mean more labor and material, but it does offer
some strength advantages. Our world is improving tools to simplify curvilinear
construction. It remains for individuals to support those efforts and "vote
with the pocket book". Note: These pages are placed in the public domain and are furnished "as is". The author assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of the concepts in this series. All authorities should be satisfied first, as might be required, by relevant laws, before any building proceeds.
Here is a vault frame which can be
made of reinforced concrete rings as framework. Clickhere for related idea.
A
geodesic
star pattern grid work which beautifully adapts to a dome form.Click here
for other arch/ vault models.
Several more examples in this series
follow below...
Next (above), is a sea shell like
cage design possibility. CAD, (design software) allows sculptors to access a
wide array of geometrical tools to determine difficult reinforcement configurations
and to develop methods for actual construction. Here is a link to ring reinforcement
as a means to build highly curved structures. Although reinforcement rings are
not easily- commercially available, a
"one man" approach to study feasibility of rings is under way,
slow but sure. Follow links on this website for much more on ring reinforcement
and on single person methods for construction, (where hired labor cannot be
afforded).
Next above is my effort with new software
tools to explore curved geometry. More
can be seen, click here.
Next (above), is a "castle shape"
applied to tilt up concrete construction. Wall sections are shown which can
be sand molded on the ground. Each undulation in the walls serves much like
corrugation in card board, which produce a "space frame" to compound
strength in a manner similar to studs in a wooden wall. These undulations also
serve to stabilize the wall sections as thy are raised into place.
Above is a preliminary drawing for
tilt up arch sections, (better drawings to follow).
In this purely hypothetical CAD model
each arch has most surfaces at 1" thick with a gusset extending along the
whole curved portion of arch, (itself 1" thick). All large surfaces have
a slight ribbing to add strength at joining edges. The main span is 20 ft.
Total
wall/roof volume of each is about 9 cu ft., so wt is about 1170 lbs. If the
straight wall sections are separated and poured flat on the ground, and also
if the curved parts are poured on a sand pile/ mold... and all these are poured
in one or two sessions, then ready mix might be used. Sand casting methods
from
ancient tech apply. A backhoe could be used to lift all pieces into place,
(if safely managed by responsible operators). Is there a cement mix which will
hold
up during assembly and over life? Adding more weight would require a bigger
backhoe and stronger safety measures.The total for a 20 X 20 ft building with
wall at back, garage door openings at front could be as little as 120 cu ft.,
per inch of thickness.
Domes next....
Above is a basket weave , great circle,
lamella cage, mostly in yellow. The green members show the relationship between
the 2 angles used for weaving together the reinforcement members. The scale
becomes important in visualization when doors and windows are cut out of a
CAD model.
Referring to CAD data in the dome
model above: about 20 ft diameter, with a slight extension out the front. For
each inch of thickness, volume is near 88 cu ft., depending on details. (The
top includes a 5 ft diameter sky light hole. The dome encloses minimal floor
space, but will hold 2 reasonable vehicles.
MXSteve's New Flying Concrete Website
More sites--
For a pretty good ferrocement information site with pictures and links, click here.
A mason friend of mine who lives on a State highway, realized that cement sculpture
was a hot business and quickly developed his own style differing from my sand
molding. He casts oversized rough shapes and then carves the pre-hardened cement.
(Click here to visit his site).
Also I notice through the internet that variations of cement sculpture are catching
on, through out America. I would like to add more www links to this page if
you wish to share your sculptural work methods.
Note: These pages are placed in the public domain and are furnished "as is". The author assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of the concepts in this series. All authorities should be satisfied first, as might be required, by relevant laws, before any building proceeds.
Searching Synergy ....
.... Free Exchange of Ideas
Enersearch was incorporated in 1980 but never materialized financially. A synergy of concepts were developed and are reflected in the pages of this series. The synergy continues as a single handed effort of Bo Atkinson, in Maine, USA.
Email comments welcome ~~~~~~~ boa1@pivot.net
Tel : 207 342 5796 . . . (Maine)
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