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". The content on this website, http://harmoniouspalette.com, is placed in the public domain only as a free exchange of ideas and as a "hard studied wish to serve life". The author assumes no responsibility for the improper use of the concepts in these web pages, as all relevant laws of life and local codes should be verified and observed before any building or experimentation proceeds. discussion is welcome, please write.  Bo Atkinson

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.

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.

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.

The content on this website, http://harmoniouspalette.com, is placed in the public domain only as a free exchange of ideas and as a "hard studied wish to serve life". The author assumes no responsibility for the improper use of the concepts in these web pages, as all relevant laws of life and local codes should be verified and observed before any building or experimentation proceeds. discussion is welcome, please write.  Bo Atkinson

 

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