tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35104294819401136752024-03-18T02:48:26.240-07:00Masonry DesignPeter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.comBlogger334125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-57948268669963895302023-07-12T10:10:00.003-07:002023-08-26T07:51:54.974-07:00Making a concrete ping pong table<p>I recently completed making a concrete ping pong table. It came out pretty well, and I look forward to playing some ping pong!</p><p>Here are the basic steps I took to make and assemble the ping pong table.</p><p>First, I made wooden molds. There was a mold made for the table surface, a mold made for the central supporting arches, and four molds for legs which spring from the arches to the corners of the tabletop. Here are the molds, shown upside down.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyz0B7juY-rB_e7YDZRKemDSBIlOoMeOf4jV74hCPi9UvKDn3c2yA_mYz5N5GXkulOtrQrttcE7ySzD9_uWFjhNdcsGxVGpTM9UinsIXeChRXkdIUCpNGmsNUI5x5nhYxnJxq5vHNV-oxNjjt-vnUlYtMKgwMGU6NTPtmjKmj-FSTiYcsZhhl0a4kjbxB/s4080/PXL_20230324_175337519.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyz0B7juY-rB_e7YDZRKemDSBIlOoMeOf4jV74hCPi9UvKDn3c2yA_mYz5N5GXkulOtrQrttcE7ySzD9_uWFjhNdcsGxVGpTM9UinsIXeChRXkdIUCpNGmsNUI5x5nhYxnJxq5vHNV-oxNjjt-vnUlYtMKgwMGU6NTPtmjKmj-FSTiYcsZhhl0a4kjbxB/s320/PXL_20230324_175337519.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Here is the arch section being made. There are 4 pieces of #3 rebar (3/8 inch diameter) in the arch form. I used basaltic FRP rebar (fiber reinforced polymer). All reinforcement was kindly donated by Nick Gencarelle of Smarter Building Systems. Nick is very knowledgeable and helpful. We just used a bagged concrete mix, specified as having a strength of 4,000 psi after 28 days of curing.<p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUpYW1n18dgxZVoPZo-HbX2O5lUXh9C2iBUpqHrOMmT8molks4cyYw7b3m1C-MWsRV3y9_U8AV4fgXKPkSlK-09TFHrgUsFVbNORCzZ1twpALcs7xlHmnGCcw4Mf1OFfvxszZLKeXcwdZc9tZFl3YO6p3bd93R07EPis2a0hLC0w3mzxhmOOM04QEqMHwN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="703" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUpYW1n18dgxZVoPZo-HbX2O5lUXh9C2iBUpqHrOMmT8molks4cyYw7b3m1C-MWsRV3y9_U8AV4fgXKPkSlK-09TFHrgUsFVbNORCzZ1twpALcs7xlHmnGCcw4Mf1OFfvxszZLKeXcwdZc9tZFl3YO6p3bd93R07EPis2a0hLC0w3mzxhmOOM04QEqMHwN" width="181" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are the four legs being made. Each leg also has 4 pieces of #3 FRP rebar.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaMyOO2z7NgeS7BeJyopm3yp5nhzJPdo7lOEFImm2Qgt-H_b1_jT4F_bzD5TfGm6B3yX706c27kIQnWf7yqalNnSYzayE4WNW2jHzV49i7iBXQBKtQV1ySPrBwPemQIzbCYeexqr3r2oO2tMEyWFcwEfs19EH1QRa6MenVzAT2yTLF0pHokwVSZNg3VFKN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="703" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaMyOO2z7NgeS7BeJyopm3yp5nhzJPdo7lOEFImm2Qgt-H_b1_jT4F_bzD5TfGm6B3yX706c27kIQnWf7yqalNnSYzayE4WNW2jHzV49i7iBXQBKtQV1ySPrBwPemQIzbCYeexqr3r2oO2tMEyWFcwEfs19EH1QRa6MenVzAT2yTLF0pHokwVSZNg3VFKN" width="181" /></a></div><br /><br /></div>Next, we set up a form for the base. The same form was used later for the tabletop. We placed #3 FRP rebar inside the form, at 10 inches on-center. The arch form and leg forms were placed and cast directly in the concrete of the base.<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvk42SE6n4ntnOhLgvFrPc_sndAIU1TxtrUP48F7XkAfYiSo3qqyJbcI_iRWKMhzHicqMqZmFTEQd9keErp1D3xKJR__zcJa9JTmq1bT1VQnWh2NXeSQXXGVVapXJbFr2GjvwkZQTDnt45-Hqwwre6vgZYbLNLqBsnWNMHnUYCtq5MXCLO11oKb2aK9Afa" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1239" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvk42SE6n4ntnOhLgvFrPc_sndAIU1TxtrUP48F7XkAfYiSo3qqyJbcI_iRWKMhzHicqMqZmFTEQd9keErp1D3xKJR__zcJa9JTmq1bT1VQnWh2NXeSQXXGVVapXJbFr2GjvwkZQTDnt45-Hqwwre6vgZYbLNLqBsnWNMHnUYCtq5MXCLO11oKb2aK9Afa" width="319" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div>After the base cured for a few days, we set up the mold for the tabletop. The mold was filled with basaltic FRP mesh reinforcement and also #3 FRP rebar, for tensile reinforcement. The rebar was located so that it aligned with the legs underneath, for strength. The entire mold was greased with Crisco, used as a mold release agent. A sheet of plastic was placed on top of the wooden form, to help the concrete release from the mold.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqtJxiuZAEQPG2lFurkHsok5vzBgY5e5AtrTKZXOGjPQ-sZt-ZyLHdX_EzULi_T7afOuuA873Wk9V7OkS5Y1WXvcnxuEceWAdCm5Ao9x4qU_7S9xu4uHzzw1G5rRJzU50pybT4e8shZI87BvLlAcB8DvjV-idyT2ODaA7LfJYpqPkSKbnSW4xKfDFa6_Ih" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1239" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqtJxiuZAEQPG2lFurkHsok5vzBgY5e5AtrTKZXOGjPQ-sZt-ZyLHdX_EzULi_T7afOuuA873Wk9V7OkS5Y1WXvcnxuEceWAdCm5Ao9x4qU_7S9xu4uHzzw1G5rRJzU50pybT4e8shZI87BvLlAcB8DvjV-idyT2ODaA7LfJYpqPkSKbnSW4xKfDFa6_Ih" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The mold was then filled with concrete, with particular attention to place some concrete under the rebar, to help provide proper cover. The concrete was then screeded (spread evenly with a straight piece of wood, moved back & forth as it is drawn across the form). This surface was then floated, or smoothed out by hand. The edges of the form were all vibrated. In this case, we did not have a proper concrete vibrator, so we used a "sawzall" reciprocating saw, which worked pretty well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijm2P0vz6M4vrCOme_g5c5L5tzW6c91KbZxvHk-LifFh5fXZrxZW-kZ4H9Fuk05dBcHhMU_h9k2WGaQhvP8Y5djmR8Kxfuih-PFl0M9ShVXvpjOjxBF8_ml29mT7QYKtdRvt7zJvKYiAHZ-XGCjzYtaiayIKxKChlh3VVU2R65agurH2uzxo5zxG9UpReU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1239" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijm2P0vz6M4vrCOme_g5c5L5tzW6c91KbZxvHk-LifFh5fXZrxZW-kZ4H9Fuk05dBcHhMU_h9k2WGaQhvP8Y5djmR8Kxfuih-PFl0M9ShVXvpjOjxBF8_ml29mT7QYKtdRvt7zJvKYiAHZ-XGCjzYtaiayIKxKChlh3VVU2R65agurH2uzxo5zxG9UpReU" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhxLNmQhvQNWk_19xAccK1WjPvBlaecNZOy3u2BJ4JCqIhbZNNBcYh2vhVrWYLeW2sXI9w3Dyws8wVCHxI_8ZVn7KnbbDtr2pmbcNtkoP-jrmeT5024gWj5Kd-W3J86noaeAcxztBfiJ5XKneftoz21XXl4F3uKBaroTBnRxvTWEvzoHdkD_FCiTr54HX3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1239" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhxLNmQhvQNWk_19xAccK1WjPvBlaecNZOy3u2BJ4JCqIhbZNNBcYh2vhVrWYLeW2sXI9w3Dyws8wVCHxI_8ZVn7KnbbDtr2pmbcNtkoP-jrmeT5024gWj5Kd-W3J86noaeAcxztBfiJ5XKneftoz21XXl4F3uKBaroTBnRxvTWEvzoHdkD_FCiTr54HX3" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Properly floating the surface is important to get a nice, smooth, flat finish. It is worth spending some time and doing this properly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkMDbN29ByzwJikqTfOmisqG89UyigaR02_KpRgFvEhjwUiqL36hKckSWh8a5hn5TE8v7DLpEX5CYeIdTJ6BBj9ombdk4YjgtfBB73P9Xj44wCKxtQhWlmaHnymv3JyqaFmLJF4VgOz1RS4fQr0OwfTVcPoCGMp9I8LKEu5d-SCtTcoNPWs_PYYo6Io1SG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1239" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkMDbN29ByzwJikqTfOmisqG89UyigaR02_KpRgFvEhjwUiqL36hKckSWh8a5hn5TE8v7DLpEX5CYeIdTJ6BBj9ombdk4YjgtfBB73P9Xj44wCKxtQhWlmaHnymv3JyqaFmLJF4VgOz1RS4fQr0OwfTVcPoCGMp9I8LKEu5d-SCtTcoNPWs_PYYo6Io1SG" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The form was then covered and allowed to cure for a full week. It helps to cover the concrete with plastic, so that water remains in the curing concrete to form hydration products.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-1bYnKybNLC-szDHCnIfPGAM_YkE8cHel7cq72Q02Z0H-_KREqg9iEPNyR9HIQLGHbYSZojUYFRXHkf7nUg7JCES2uYGEtbXfZ6oG4rp2rRbd8k0i3cx3CwCRhMQWmwXR9FXyDlKh84zMSRQGNkAJ-JzpdDnqmpWexcAYkj0jkITFF3zhZSwe08102PYC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1239" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-1bYnKybNLC-szDHCnIfPGAM_YkE8cHel7cq72Q02Z0H-_KREqg9iEPNyR9HIQLGHbYSZojUYFRXHkf7nUg7JCES2uYGEtbXfZ6oG4rp2rRbd8k0i3cx3CwCRhMQWmwXR9FXyDlKh84zMSRQGNkAJ-JzpdDnqmpWexcAYkj0jkITFF3zhZSwe08102PYC" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJBxaik6OFu51QCwLnTpv9WteUZzqYdMpFajp-ej1Nlba0dg9PuQPHe_xchXytgLbEnTJbaOrH5_Bkt_HT1b4nhS7myNl3wL3ffP4JWoj_qEnqAIibsBraxy_EPYKpkbA2MbcIxuxXJe2wza2ImkbyR1TpkKAR92AF0s3Zucy44a31KAuQQ443CTxvylkn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1239" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJBxaik6OFu51QCwLnTpv9WteUZzqYdMpFajp-ej1Nlba0dg9PuQPHe_xchXytgLbEnTJbaOrH5_Bkt_HT1b4nhS7myNl3wL3ffP4JWoj_qEnqAIibsBraxy_EPYKpkbA2MbcIxuxXJe2wza2ImkbyR1TpkKAR92AF0s3Zucy44a31KAuQQ443CTxvylkn" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After one full week, the wooden forms were removed. We also did some landscaping, to create a level playing surface on the ground around the table; this involved a retaining wall being placed also. This work was simply done with a pick, shovel and rake. It took an afternoon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlJu9vKYx2TS3TJj70_EVsblCPZZvosLCc9Hvn2udVPs5HxeSCukDhaRfD2AI2ABfkuzVGIJYDnnq8ueQzc0qMpI5cbszL_zaTcdyjOZ8zuE46HgVjszKlCt6dWrkbRTYeSHmcDUgmJayNsCW0ldhuDeIWlnN_i_NxqkJ6Fzp-QG0J_XKzCelqFDKlYLgA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1239" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlJu9vKYx2TS3TJj70_EVsblCPZZvosLCc9Hvn2udVPs5HxeSCukDhaRfD2AI2ABfkuzVGIJYDnnq8ueQzc0qMpI5cbszL_zaTcdyjOZ8zuE46HgVjszKlCt6dWrkbRTYeSHmcDUgmJayNsCW0ldhuDeIWlnN_i_NxqkJ6Fzp-QG0J_XKzCelqFDKlYLgA" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8OI-Xf9ByBdXKvQItlVVPqe1JFy7zMevjSvZcoPhqRUa2jIkgib1hYrdW3s0jxebd3Vsfy7ZdE9nYIlf3Ay7rD5RGZ-xWym73PGTG7VxAOWK406-H_jQCLoad71zCCmb0JVeScuCBwy17Lb1wj-wc1xAJERQLvjMSz_fpzb-08HtKBMB5bDHKbabJiAet" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1239" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8OI-Xf9ByBdXKvQItlVVPqe1JFy7zMevjSvZcoPhqRUa2jIkgib1hYrdW3s0jxebd3Vsfy7ZdE9nYIlf3Ay7rD5RGZ-xWym73PGTG7VxAOWK406-H_jQCLoad71zCCmb0JVeScuCBwy17Lb1wj-wc1xAJERQLvjMSz_fpzb-08HtKBMB5bDHKbabJiAet" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZLO9uUE_cLmVlYqrlsgjXLPOyAqe189Kn_tZ3r9AsG5csmlrfva4M0621eaZjIsp_WaHlE4kctI0DMMErd8l33ZEWLPsX8sh7IORuVyxdwznr8OicD-9at7pAte_Sh7Ji7q6KzvYXTknihtD1AhoPj7-m6moqOk-1c1GirLmuBQ-d5Q-baIr2XTLDyZNc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1239" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZLO9uUE_cLmVlYqrlsgjXLPOyAqe189Kn_tZ3r9AsG5csmlrfva4M0621eaZjIsp_WaHlE4kctI0DMMErd8l33ZEWLPsX8sh7IORuVyxdwznr8OicD-9at7pAte_Sh7Ji7q6KzvYXTknihtD1AhoPj7-m6moqOk-1c1GirLmuBQ-d5Q-baIr2XTLDyZNc" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, it just needs a net! I will also use a sealant to help protect the concrete from the weather, something like Thompson's Water Seal. This will also make a great picnic table. I expect it should last a long time. We will also plant some grass on the fresh dirt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This basic concept could be made much larger, to provide an elevated platform to build homes on. We could use my company's masonry arch system to accomplish this, easily and quite affordably. This would be appropriate for coastal areas which are prone to storm surges and flooding from hurricanes and severe weather. It is stronger than the wooden posts currently used to elevate homes above a storm-surge plain, and will not rust or rot, like wood. It is also more elegant and looks much better than those wooden posts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This table cost about $150 in concrete. The rebar is also inexpensive. If anyone wants a concrete ping pong table and would like to borrow my molds, you are welcome to. Just let me know.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This thing should be fun, I look forward to using it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZjnHAmcGJu_gMxcuZAOTo_ZEOXqILsXLDBlnr8Jgu4nW0lSU6OaIilMktv7GvxkDhGoP8hTy0epfXGPbhToQcjlodW4QZ94Jq4Vk8fujSpbbZKfHkRoTMf0Az-eLXuS0_01ujksqTDJSPRtA5TzIPzBqOkvbli7b_Zt9KhrUxDvStO_XCBgUc8IqfD0X/s4080/PXL_20230809_135614668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZjnHAmcGJu_gMxcuZAOTo_ZEOXqILsXLDBlnr8Jgu4nW0lSU6OaIilMktv7GvxkDhGoP8hTy0epfXGPbhToQcjlodW4QZ94Jq4Vk8fujSpbbZKfHkRoTMf0Az-eLXuS0_01ujksqTDJSPRtA5TzIPzBqOkvbli7b_Zt9KhrUxDvStO_XCBgUc8IqfD0X/s320/PXL_20230809_135614668.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p></div></div>Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-17987918060301012372022-11-15T17:54:00.005-08:002022-11-29T15:38:06.878-08:00A recent video<p>Recently some dear friends of mine completed a lovely video they made about me, my work and my company. This work was done by Burton Stein, his daughter Autumn Layne Stein, and Autumn's fiance, Matt Goodwin. I am very grateful to them for this work. </p><p>Here it is! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-D-cp0M3En0" width="320" youtube-src-id="-D-cp0M3En0"></iframe></div><br />Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-85390972233921335722022-09-11T17:00:00.012-07:002022-10-28T04:43:14.667-07:00Experimental prototype one-car garage<p> I decided to make a concrete driveway at my property in Alfred, NY. It gets very muddy here, so a concrete driveway will be very helpful. I need the driveway to be strong enough to accomodate heavy trucks. It is 8 inches thick, with #3 <span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(3/8 inch diameter) basaltic fiber reinforced polymer rebar, arranged every foot on center. I'm using 4,500 psi concrete, and doing pattern stamping with a "European fan" pattern, finished with coloring and finally sealed. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodnIpBOoph6COHSub9xW8WulTcTDV4OCrgQ1sFsaiR_3lXhdkm3YA83LCSwJ9EgciBzwvXIfBDCEdOa1uf2CtbW1qzmaC074LDvMCwG1U3cNUklV5hEjjhR67z4qxtXguWlSsyyekrkl02YZnfsg8w_uGBjAAlgbGAtlMYRpXG5S_FYfiDaxy1ePpNg/s4032/PXL_20220831_143103645.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodnIpBOoph6COHSub9xW8WulTcTDV4OCrgQ1sFsaiR_3lXhdkm3YA83LCSwJ9EgciBzwvXIfBDCEdOa1uf2CtbW1qzmaC074LDvMCwG1U3cNUklV5hEjjhR67z4qxtXguWlSsyyekrkl02YZnfsg8w_uGBjAAlgbGAtlMYRpXG5S_FYfiDaxy1ePpNg/s320/PXL_20220831_143103645.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HPLz7BPicp0rA_QyNa70IvGYiVRQDCYxpVzP6g2Hl--lL5IGuLmHeTEv_oD1ruLrY39zEik5yeboQ5kLkughWpwCRF5U_ERNjBFqaFCzHT8Lswkb9duE87Hdf-nWW7PCpdsI-u2DYnenNq5YSIh8iRL7V2-RS01XTw-Z3fmQ0oh1r2B7OAgiNW__VQ/s4032/PXL_20220831_191134898.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HPLz7BPicp0rA_QyNa70IvGYiVRQDCYxpVzP6g2Hl--lL5IGuLmHeTEv_oD1ruLrY39zEik5yeboQ5kLkughWpwCRF5U_ERNjBFqaFCzHT8Lswkb9duE87Hdf-nWW7PCpdsI-u2DYnenNq5YSIh8iRL7V2-RS01XTw-Z3fmQ0oh1r2B7OAgiNW__VQ/s320/PXL_20220831_191134898.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EJ6QXuyAGXxmf3Fzx0ckBSYYjIBE0FV4dz3xwXJ5_3mNROTD-YB3FlfP5BDVRYaR5XXKYmbis48HFVOOwcx9mwA-ks2s66Yf5p2bGPE6AE5ijxj52WGUE7vtI8_kbfAH_nJ6-xwsxFS94yPfvMRtNP2DulsquSvY0JUc2XybUv9GvWBntk04GxEPNg/s4032/PXL_20220825_212516382.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EJ6QXuyAGXxmf3Fzx0ckBSYYjIBE0FV4dz3xwXJ5_3mNROTD-YB3FlfP5BDVRYaR5XXKYmbis48HFVOOwcx9mwA-ks2s66Yf5p2bGPE6AE5ijxj52WGUE7vtI8_kbfAH_nJ6-xwsxFS94yPfvMRtNP2DulsquSvY0JUc2XybUv9GvWBntk04GxEPNg/s320/PXL_20220825_212516382.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9m6t3Nhhy1AhdnYdO7JN_4MAVAgowQzNNPfZ1CtftQUmhxt8LgbqlNczp7_N9fRGeJCtIcP9yCWHcTOHwEo5sBiUtP5P1W0_49Po_tHudTriU3Oqkz3D4Jlhtyw3engPx0HhX4P1D3xmPpZowlXM1eAUIqOMmZmCpqini6IWAHGFn--jyaAruX_iu2A/s4032/PXL_20220825_213915917.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9m6t3Nhhy1AhdnYdO7JN_4MAVAgowQzNNPfZ1CtftQUmhxt8LgbqlNczp7_N9fRGeJCtIcP9yCWHcTOHwEo5sBiUtP5P1W0_49Po_tHudTriU3Oqkz3D4Jlhtyw3engPx0HhX4P1D3xmPpZowlXM1eAUIqOMmZmCpqini6IWAHGFn--jyaAruX_iu2A/s320/PXL_20220825_213915917.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I realized that I had to build a garage at the end of this driveway, beginning at the end. In the past month or so I assembled this prototype, in a simultaneous attempt at several new experiments. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81q_zYOYPka3PlxNsVzi9lTcr8sJq8gxrvuxQnedRmV78tKdrA3H9BmoI-WJSbZGsjl8EkU8t3Cqk-Imoda25RIWdlM1q7iYCdbmcwMirxg9Tm0yBjgPlgHtY-6f3V24TuilWge-vlSFaTmDzwpVQDWIBWw8mkIzQwTBe5PMK0sT_F7A2MuNCLMoByw/s4032/PXL_20220721_145134909.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81q_zYOYPka3PlxNsVzi9lTcr8sJq8gxrvuxQnedRmV78tKdrA3H9BmoI-WJSbZGsjl8EkU8t3Cqk-Imoda25RIWdlM1q7iYCdbmcwMirxg9Tm0yBjgPlgHtY-6f3V24TuilWge-vlSFaTmDzwpVQDWIBWw8mkIzQwTBe5PMK0sT_F7A2MuNCLMoByw/s320/PXL_20220721_145134909.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The garage is 12 ft. wide, 20 ft. deep, and 8 ft. tall at opening. FRP rebar is located every 8 inches, in walls and arch.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAExx8z1V620BYbHGKtuahExtUVBd5pZRLuuviZ2wIJLvl_lZT-bvVNOifj_e-ZcmbOzOJ-hJP1wNvm92aKtvBxpCTxWo2L7F_rZC5hdW6TN3E0A4DL3Q60VGn2g1NxsDLaNhhN83EwuJ8GgQIcK_IW-AuDKAzsWuFMQTAFEktEuK3Ics4lc5FrxOcMA/s4032/PXL_20220727_150903750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAExx8z1V620BYbHGKtuahExtUVBd5pZRLuuviZ2wIJLvl_lZT-bvVNOifj_e-ZcmbOzOJ-hJP1wNvm92aKtvBxpCTxWo2L7F_rZC5hdW6TN3E0A4DL3Q60VGn2g1NxsDLaNhhN83EwuJ8GgQIcK_IW-AuDKAzsWuFMQTAFEktEuK3Ics4lc5FrxOcMA/s320/PXL_20220727_150903750.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Concrete block are anisotropic, which means that they are stronger in one direction than another. They are much stronger in compression in the axis of compaction during their manufacture. The strength increase is around 70% higher along the axis of compaction. Regular CMU walls have this high-strength axis oriented vertically, up-and-down. This means that the weak axis is oriented horizontally. In cases where high strength is desirable in the horizontal direction, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, extreme weather events, and especially waves or driven water, it could be advantageous to have the high-strength axis oriented horizontally.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNX9ti7gUGIeE1rT9Znh4wB9_FxdvjhucJveELHbYtZaVvLidWONx-5Gt6GQ10OMkZq_2imVzi0EL94wtwz2qi9QiFP1nGBiGb5YYSRfvEjZvHuJeUP3oho9CURgIunXb0Gy8zTLKbqdMUxIys7OCdd0Jk3v--EnITlqHoNL6grFSrhgJYoGe8AWTjyA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="902" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNX9ti7gUGIeE1rT9Znh4wB9_FxdvjhucJveELHbYtZaVvLidWONx-5Gt6GQ10OMkZq_2imVzi0EL94wtwz2qi9QiFP1nGBiGb5YYSRfvEjZvHuJeUP3oho9CURgIunXb0Gy8zTLKbqdMUxIys7OCdd0Jk3v--EnITlqHoNL6grFSrhgJYoGe8AWTjyA" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Anisotropy in manufactured block occurs because aggregate aligns itself preferentially, normal to, or at 90 degrees to, the applied force during violent vibrational compaction of concrete mix in a mold to form the CMU. Here are some optical micrographs taken from a CMU, showing preferential orientation of aggregate.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-AyreXWST-l34C716Uwc8bF6-5BZIkWgGJXQInVWH6otOCyEHfz8jd73sIMFtzGmgjBNliWDgIQePS6yeCQHzGPI6y5k8kbhjCfRvsxR1LiMIFLCP86ZqyJELrzUuOWsMQHN_So5jt-F02VazMT5VMNfCGWJ8axbrFwIPEITJNy227gZcEPtPOdEDA/s1147/livoti%20image.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="1147" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-AyreXWST-l34C716Uwc8bF6-5BZIkWgGJXQInVWH6otOCyEHfz8jd73sIMFtzGmgjBNliWDgIQePS6yeCQHzGPI6y5k8kbhjCfRvsxR1LiMIFLCP86ZqyJELrzUuOWsMQHN_So5jt-F02VazMT5VMNfCGWJ8axbrFwIPEITJNy227gZcEPtPOdEDA/s320/livoti%20image.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The walls of this prototype building have the high-strength axis oriented horizontally. There are no hollow cores, it is solid 8 inches of reinforced concrete. Shown below is an improvized 'bond beam' for additional lateral strength; there are 2 rebar emedded in the mortar joint. Such a building should be capable to withstand tornadoes, hurricanes and wildfires.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsg6xEnnMHyFWEnjDbXlIXj29dJJDIH_dyfyml9sd8VFPhulcOxtcQGsnzrr3enE91TUj_9WZ651wbcIGnmrwZnsIiGDqI-SQ9--jl93I2S34FVM5xFp2WBO4FigPfdxhGerKOh-7CxgU1fZKS9eu4mPwT43oSKzHEI8X4HlUa3ZpgJjH5cyRFHNkTNQ/s4032/PXL_20220807_235605782.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsg6xEnnMHyFWEnjDbXlIXj29dJJDIH_dyfyml9sd8VFPhulcOxtcQGsnzrr3enE91TUj_9WZ651wbcIGnmrwZnsIiGDqI-SQ9--jl93I2S34FVM5xFp2WBO4FigPfdxhGerKOh-7CxgU1fZKS9eu4mPwT43oSKzHEI8X4HlUa3ZpgJjH5cyRFHNkTNQ/s320/PXL_20220807_235605782.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The roof will have the block oriented radially, toward the outside, so that this high-strength axis feature is maximized. I am getting ready to build the masonry arch roof, which springs from cast reinforced skewback/bond beam at the top of the vertical wall. Inside the building at the top of the vertical walls are horizontal rebar crossing the span, for additional tensile reinforcement.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PYHpj7dUfuI9WGo2Xq-P9g1rNw7qs9YJW3i6nMF4IgOjIyvkfpV5MAxcReoLRqkfQqrnz6e7gSBRWSeZqP57Q-NuztaRkcIlLo2NR8w1SLCH4zmoFMqD31sLftFO9kpOk0LqgV50YxkrHGEg_DyL8N2w7roJJ3vzQytGIEg-xhFKA5lnJBDlHh6stQ/s4032/PXL_20220907_192305039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PYHpj7dUfuI9WGo2Xq-P9g1rNw7qs9YJW3i6nMF4IgOjIyvkfpV5MAxcReoLRqkfQqrnz6e7gSBRWSeZqP57Q-NuztaRkcIlLo2NR8w1SLCH4zmoFMqD31sLftFO9kpOk0LqgV50YxkrHGEg_DyL8N2w7roJJ3vzQytGIEg-xhFKA5lnJBDlHh6stQ/s320/PXL_20220907_192305039.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbbdJCbW4uM1r6xQe5uljG1kZADHbF-hZyC--hL0zyg0MpUSsLO4Bo07y1n_nM2qDfICvhDa_s09l0C9gERORRMccqpNTay8UBz6bhwBkEmyTvmYuUVZVa8OeXcdQZBkYHxggXizn2yn1Kpatai7EVR9hHEw033uY9av8N1uPtsMCl0_Bsm5SG0JlQQ/s4032/PXL_20220907_192325497.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbbdJCbW4uM1r6xQe5uljG1kZADHbF-hZyC--hL0zyg0MpUSsLO4Bo07y1n_nM2qDfICvhDa_s09l0C9gERORRMccqpNTay8UBz6bhwBkEmyTvmYuUVZVa8OeXcdQZBkYHxggXizn2yn1Kpatai7EVR9hHEw033uY9av8N1uPtsMCl0_Bsm5SG0JlQQ/s320/PXL_20220907_192325497.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4yRdOAr3mm_71lGo_sJQBiSXgk5qbsw34vij8xlqV6HtfTGcnqPBSUfEOxtXOBfL8jNjJseq3sWHOUkbbw65rmWWP7I0JzCVf4mN6Zt_zKdxdIzDTA8T-l-xnuHl--r79Cg8NIigl_AvgEmhwxx-QfXso8FYcRR0nQn8J67wQi2WDkdMDhcuW1tyTA/s4032/PXL_20220907_220349850.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4yRdOAr3mm_71lGo_sJQBiSXgk5qbsw34vij8xlqV6HtfTGcnqPBSUfEOxtXOBfL8jNjJseq3sWHOUkbbw65rmWWP7I0JzCVf4mN6Zt_zKdxdIzDTA8T-l-xnuHl--r79Cg8NIigl_AvgEmhwxx-QfXso8FYcRR0nQn8J67wQi2WDkdMDhcuW1tyTA/s320/PXL_20220907_220349850.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDH8CSeai8OH0shIza1lnKm9tCB33JKHHJL7GE-CU2SZyjVtwxlIIa6eiBBHRk2qNF3ZDXtKzDkrM5HMjV-UCE34cR_TqfZelyEfvPS3SGQzpK7RZxwM9qcbZIDMa5hIehHwMcdPiFam6ebBWdLhE0pPPc8_hbExftUt9v-i6tIuBUdRkBKif9_InLQ/s4032/PXL_20220910_161335529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDH8CSeai8OH0shIza1lnKm9tCB33JKHHJL7GE-CU2SZyjVtwxlIIa6eiBBHRk2qNF3ZDXtKzDkrM5HMjV-UCE34cR_TqfZelyEfvPS3SGQzpK7RZxwM9qcbZIDMa5hIehHwMcdPiFam6ebBWdLhE0pPPc8_hbExftUt9v-i6tIuBUdRkBKif9_InLQ/s320/PXL_20220910_161335529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will post updates as this project is completed. It's going pretty quickly, and I'm just working alone: moving block, mixing mud and tending myself. One block at a time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbyRCGitkt7UxEsLt0kSEfXiBwy7kqvf_XBDgRtO3Qo5XBQ9ttDxgf-U2JOLZqQolEOag5VaTZv-yvhVwb1fcZ1ldra2haC_g8GnY6iKi5MBR0eTZvZ_jqAvQjevO_Y-5Nru53xoFIP5jO0CH4mAAs8GoM1AQQY8aWwU_IJjb7UdtAdHDXrnKFFAHwA/s4032/PXL_20220917_214406823.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbyRCGitkt7UxEsLt0kSEfXiBwy7kqvf_XBDgRtO3Qo5XBQ9ttDxgf-U2JOLZqQolEOag5VaTZv-yvhVwb1fcZ1ldra2haC_g8GnY6iKi5MBR0eTZvZ_jqAvQjevO_Y-5Nru53xoFIP5jO0CH4mAAs8GoM1AQQY8aWwU_IJjb7UdtAdHDXrnKFFAHwA/s320/PXL_20220917_214406823.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-55523950190958864922022-03-21T09:21:00.006-07:002022-03-21T16:33:37.448-07:00Masonry acoustics, part deux<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">I recently finished the second coat of paint on the living room of a building I'm currently completing. Since it is clean and empty, I thought this might be a good time to briefly discuss the room's acoustics.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My dear father left me a pair of <a href="https://www.klipsch.com/products/klipschorn-floorstanding-speaker" target="_blank">Klipschorn</a> speakers, something of a 'classic' pair of loudspeakers, designed and made by Paul Klipsch. These are a pair of vintage speakers, renowned for their efficiency and warm sound.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxrZkitZvQJ3paFr65B_N5HqHBFnol6oddJ76BRNM3i8IHr3KSBTSkQIdaQ-53OH7UVTvSusN92WbuHGHGlX-lK5vCBxYklVmf27AqGFbKeDGiJ_B3Snu1cVehkr3F7l6zjVYUl1ayBRCK7aIV1CgKhCf9sKKgziOp14DQwVlszjpiLfa_Ey-9KHptyA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxrZkitZvQJ3paFr65B_N5HqHBFnol6oddJ76BRNM3i8IHr3KSBTSkQIdaQ-53OH7UVTvSusN92WbuHGHGlX-lK5vCBxYklVmf27AqGFbKeDGiJ_B3Snu1cVehkr3F7l6zjVYUl1ayBRCK7aIV1CgKhCf9sKKgziOp14DQwVlszjpiLfa_Ey-9KHptyA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Knowing that I wanted to place these speakers in this room, I consulted the <a href="https://community.klipsch.com/index.php?/topic/6789-best-room-size-for-positioning-k-horns/" target="_blank">Klipsch website</a> to find out what the optimal design and proportions of the room should be. "<span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">Klipschorn speakers typically perform best when positioned </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;">in the corners on the long wall of a rectangular room</b><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">. If the room is very narrow and long with corners farther apart than 18 to 20 feet, the stereo image may not be optimal. A room with a length to width ratio of 1.00 to .618 is preferred." The same ratio is applied to the height of the wall, so that the ratio of the width of the room to its height is </span></span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">1.00 to .618. These ratios resulted in the room having the dimensions of 3</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span>0 ft. </span></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span>8 in. long, by 1</span></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span>9</span></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span> ft. wide, by 11 ft. </span></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8 in. tall. The arched ceiling goes to a top center height of 16 ft.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The ratio of <span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">1.00 to .618 may sound familiar to any mathematically inclined people. This is the ratio provided by the Fibonacci sequence. These ratios are ideally reflected in al three axes: x,y and z. Thus the proportions of the room are those of a 'golden cube.' These same ratios are found in the Greek Parthenon. It is both visually appealing and acoustically beneficial. Some say that these ratios help prevent constructive or destructive interference of certain frequencies; this idea seems to be disputed by others.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKj4NfaCgp-g1yQ7xZ5CZT0cxNGnUaSJyxO6IzXYFyK1UsFk-5zERSkt4LARxf2NHPr8BFysLGE4ddp990qErQwKy_Qa533Hlsr6_vEWfhcYQH-HiXzRMDhHg512_xqtTkAc96y7Zm61SYdu9_zTMDesgUxCxHRDszd1DRq8PNgu5pF-kxhVKeALMeRw=s1144" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1144" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKj4NfaCgp-g1yQ7xZ5CZT0cxNGnUaSJyxO6IzXYFyK1UsFk-5zERSkt4LARxf2NHPr8BFysLGE4ddp990qErQwKy_Qa533Hlsr6_vEWfhcYQH-HiXzRMDhHg512_xqtTkAc96y7Zm61SYdu9_zTMDesgUxCxHRDszd1DRq8PNgu5pF-kxhVKeALMeRw=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The only other suggestion offered by Klipsch is to include an arched ceiling, for more resonance and a fuller sound. This room has an arched roof, it's the focus of my work.</span></span></p><p><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The stereo sounds great, it really rocks out: whether it's Beethoven or Jimi Hendrix.</span></span></p>Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-4546504102868324082022-02-26T20:22:00.004-08:002022-02-26T22:19:07.670-08:00Masonry acoustics<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ChYA0g_WGfc" width="320" youtube-src-id="ChYA0g_WGfc"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gqo8t93gOsk" width="320" youtube-src-id="gqo8t93gOsk"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wyRKgCOErbw" width="320" youtube-src-id="wyRKgCOErbw"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fuL5bjX6sMk" width="320" youtube-src-id="fuL5bjX6sMk"></iframe></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/989EHgaACwA" width="320" youtube-src-id="989EHgaACwA"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-44953430961494020002022-01-21T18:15:00.000-08:002022-01-21T18:15:36.336-08:00Where is the most stress?<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In designing and assembling a masonry building, the engineering work can provide helpful insight which is simple and powerful. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">For example, if we consider the masonry building I'm currently completing, it's insightful to ask: where is the highest stress in the building? Where is the highest compressive force, squeezing together? Where is the highest tensile force, pulling apart?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The engineering for this building was done by Cheng-Ning Jong, PE. He has some familiarity with my company's masonry system, since he helped compose, file and prosecute all of our patents. We've worked together for several years and have a good rapport, a comfortable back-and-forth as we discuss, develop and fully articulate ideas. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Mr. Jong's most critical role, in my opinion, is the detailing of the reinforcement and the size of the concrete footer from which the stem wall is laid. A 'footer' is the base of the building, typically located in an excavated trench. Here's a picture of the footer, with the first few block being arranged for the stem wall:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOMubntPKrvDk58d8gDH4VfSoHu7LpehD8Hii_9znT0zH2HEgCSQb1rzSSR9itg1dN6MoMFD3SYzKn36v5282dnMWGE6eDvm5RFaDVj94orVFWlI7AS4AaF7KoLDOmFgoN8UZv7H1cXK79xOtGleIhYdsj-7Vqg4wflBeGVBOHq2ZDC-rqmnkRUYXeXQ=s990" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="742" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOMubntPKrvDk58d8gDH4VfSoHu7LpehD8Hii_9znT0zH2HEgCSQb1rzSSR9itg1dN6MoMFD3SYzKn36v5282dnMWGE6eDvm5RFaDVj94orVFWlI7AS4AaF7KoLDOmFgoN8UZv7H1cXK79xOtGleIhYdsj-7Vqg4wflBeGVBOHq2ZDC-rqmnkRUYXeXQ=s320" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A stem wall is the bottom section of all the vertical walls buried below the ground, sitting on the footer. Here is a completed stem wall for a room:</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgl9u9bhexWS9D2D4-HVamBN6VFtSWG7BoR0ZC5XX--nfYX-oilHSQE5BwDe-PsWtDv3uklHWT8qMGR6C6j_APC1FuppbwDbbplUm6JyA1_4twdFgq0ispz8ZlmvNtb66i9Dsz1vDUGJPDgxYeHf7GJE8c0lyM3GEd0B891yVQQX1WmOsGv7wUceIMUWw=s1225" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgl9u9bhexWS9D2D4-HVamBN6VFtSWG7BoR0ZC5XX--nfYX-oilHSQE5BwDe-PsWtDv3uklHWT8qMGR6C6j_APC1FuppbwDbbplUm6JyA1_4twdFgq0ispz8ZlmvNtb66i9Dsz1vDUGJPDgxYeHf7GJE8c0lyM3GEd0B891yVQQX1WmOsGv7wUceIMUWw=s320" width="320" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">This building has arched masonry roofs, domes, half-domes, flying buttresses, arches meeting at intersections; there is a lot of structural configuration, rebar, weight, stress and so on within the building structure. Here are some architectural drawings, showing some of this detail. Our architect for this building was Robert Ferry, AIA, RDP.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyIY5CMxI2MqBhhqvkLDjQUZCR0croRtw66Ga7yrohYnuiqyW0c0oPE4aGmdpYaU-P-793ggjMMSYtDHrpp9INF_8-FmsCVsst1TXD2xdeMhO_UvFyDLr5xDUp0IXH4MIiAmSFM7dXUk0w5MnyfnXlKXb4vs_ftlAWKE23OF3s9NQptn5at3MMRTdOqQ=s1113" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1113" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyIY5CMxI2MqBhhqvkLDjQUZCR0croRtw66Ga7yrohYnuiqyW0c0oPE4aGmdpYaU-P-793ggjMMSYtDHrpp9INF_8-FmsCVsst1TXD2xdeMhO_UvFyDLr5xDUp0IXH4MIiAmSFM7dXUk0w5MnyfnXlKXb4vs_ftlAWKE23OF3s9NQptn5at3MMRTdOqQ=s320" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh__HG_0i_i6SwqE6N0FDtCVVCVbg2lf1s7llGwEDzT4SspuQjUblhyjW4xKfc7d3SK2Dp_1K4L_oxq2KPKcJYErh3c_37KVEQ2-nQDFNcd6Ss3a_UzSghzTSV3c2i1jA7REvdEjRhJekCF_Ml6S2vgy62IM8flmjGL5iek_Z-A4txBZl1jvGbj3CMU3g=s1108" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1108" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh__HG_0i_i6SwqE6N0FDtCVVCVbg2lf1s7llGwEDzT4SspuQjUblhyjW4xKfc7d3SK2Dp_1K4L_oxq2KPKcJYErh3c_37KVEQ2-nQDFNcd6Ss3a_UzSghzTSV3c2i1jA7REvdEjRhJekCF_Ml6S2vgy62IM8flmjGL5iek_Z-A4txBZl1jvGbj3CMU3g=s320" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBI2AMXtyRehJ8pcWO5KDHCa9rqopuV77Yk15bR9pAMgI8ri-YvNMet5yrRS6o9lFaXDCsazYywqb6-3GMFA3q9F4BTMkOkEeAzJum45DeY6jlytbfrT77sbZNKteqLHKhGZN5HpFg-CPKo1VUaBRQw_AZECY_1f1bgVrQBjY2teUku_1maXGQp_UbzQ=s1111" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1111" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBI2AMXtyRehJ8pcWO5KDHCa9rqopuV77Yk15bR9pAMgI8ri-YvNMet5yrRS6o9lFaXDCsazYywqb6-3GMFA3q9F4BTMkOkEeAzJum45DeY6jlytbfrT77sbZNKteqLHKhGZN5HpFg-CPKo1VUaBRQw_AZECY_1f1bgVrQBjY2teUku_1maXGQp_UbzQ=s320" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">So if we consider this entire structure, where is the most stress? Where is the highest compression? Where is the highest tension?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The highest compression occurs at the bottom of the stem wall, where the stem wall meets the footer, on the<i style="font-weight: bold;"> outside </i>of the building. Why? The entire weight of the building sits on this point. In addition, the vertical wall acts as a giant lever, translating any thrusting force from the masonry roof and increasing this force by the length of the lever, or wall height to this location. This location, at the corner of the stem wall and the footer, wants to act as a hinge on which the lever of the vertical wall acts. The highest tension occurs at the bottom of the stem wall, where the stem wall meets the footer, on the <i style="font-weight: bold;">inside</i> of the building. The same lever action of the wall wants to pull up from the hinging on the outside, a mere <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">8 inches away: the wall thickness.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhbLM9SPpt92PGjyOSW0dNkAqcggSwgAm5q_LeEVqvdxyvFgYMD6V5jqL7TO380WVPietvyI6nPvBLUZKOnvyjJwgiKdRQ3YTVqKvrDcYCXaPxXO10DRyYm7gcwOHS4AbGwkMCJrhnVRHy7a4ytyCZuf99j5FOBcbQgRC5UUIFDwBsSJiBLOZZjrQ0_w=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhbLM9SPpt92PGjyOSW0dNkAqcggSwgAm5q_LeEVqvdxyvFgYMD6V5jqL7TO380WVPietvyI6nPvBLUZKOnvyjJwgiKdRQ3YTVqKvrDcYCXaPxXO10DRyYm7gcwOHS4AbGwkMCJrhnVRHy7a4ytyCZuf99j5FOBcbQgRC5UUIFDwBsSJiBLOZZjrQ0_w=s320" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">It's useful to note these areas of high stress. It makes one pay closer attention to the detailing of rebar, rebar placement, connections, centering, etc., when you are consciously aware that the building you're making will have these high stress locations. Build accordingly, get it right.</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-12147571657819660572022-01-19T18:04:00.001-08:002022-01-19T18:04:36.186-08:00Finishing a masonry closet<p>I've just finished a closet in a masonry building I'm making. A closet allows me to try certain steps, before committing such steps to the entire building. </p><p>How will the drywall work? Test it in the closet.</p><p>How will the paint look? Try the closet. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9T86XCb1bTQEcF2_-GILCntH_46oobYk8p5vWygzLBdGgkZ4MGg_5lwt7rUo1L-8eT--wzIOTrzqHEVGiK0lS5O4kXOWBDqbK3DErUXa1GsN04vw6u7gwKukiTwR4bFa5PbT8JxpbtQLbur2kTMXdGKve-0PapP9u7itaL5BxdVSZYMj0HX6qIugN9w=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9T86XCb1bTQEcF2_-GILCntH_46oobYk8p5vWygzLBdGgkZ4MGg_5lwt7rUo1L-8eT--wzIOTrzqHEVGiK0lS5O4kXOWBDqbK3DErUXa1GsN04vw6u7gwKukiTwR4bFa5PbT8JxpbtQLbur2kTMXdGKve-0PapP9u7itaL5BxdVSZYMj0HX6qIugN9w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgx2AtiOzp99IyhA7c91uleEybFmVUaOBdwqwbmhOebYvw1DSXGT3QsLmz38j21DL4QFJiL0AFbG8bPbkMtbPcsKhkDDomYeO29dXNjFWjhg_bT2GD-fpALwU9DP7YbMRLWCSLXFAiaxbIai0nIwmuXEbbPo0iZSz3ARKi2yq8I1mbVnPh6E0C50q2yOA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgx2AtiOzp99IyhA7c91uleEybFmVUaOBdwqwbmhOebYvw1DSXGT3QsLmz38j21DL4QFJiL0AFbG8bPbkMtbPcsKhkDDomYeO29dXNjFWjhg_bT2GD-fpALwU9DP7YbMRLWCSLXFAiaxbIai0nIwmuXEbbPo0iZSz3ARKi2yq8I1mbVnPh6E0C50q2yOA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDsque0ebLW2IB-g6kXs197khuGzTq-8ksyMP5cPjk4QsBTDaOaSownXd8Etiq5AvSVm78W8Mxi3hQtJC2H_S3gPei0s8LNYhOrSkqZa9_3nWrUXDznYP-Gpohb6FDFOHMnivIftljuf3BV5vICePNdjrE2QpLMttp5c4eOQoMVgkcTFFEjD8qwVL5SQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDsque0ebLW2IB-g6kXs197khuGzTq-8ksyMP5cPjk4QsBTDaOaSownXd8Etiq5AvSVm78W8Mxi3hQtJC2H_S3gPei0s8LNYhOrSkqZa9_3nWrUXDznYP-Gpohb6FDFOHMnivIftljuf3BV5vICePNdjrE2QpLMttp5c4eOQoMVgkcTFFEjD8qwVL5SQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXzuwOjSjX9ccaU0PN4FF89oDrVELkjoFPY3Kpus7SUjwIcy0PeDKYZqJW6nNtmwEAT3Ys6PAYkANn1qqWZ4HeWkx-w950Y6IQ8745ETmvovL_zcJClnwICjwDwH2SwqByzeAsH2tPBrxlCEFJnriif3zVv_aINVNwgDSz0eXjCU19nHIUvxkC7YpYiQ=s3264" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXzuwOjSjX9ccaU0PN4FF89oDrVELkjoFPY3Kpus7SUjwIcy0PeDKYZqJW6nNtmwEAT3Ys6PAYkANn1qqWZ4HeWkx-w950Y6IQ8745ETmvovL_zcJClnwICjwDwH2SwqByzeAsH2tPBrxlCEFJnriif3zVv_aINVNwgDSz0eXjCU19nHIUvxkC7YpYiQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF2zJRJXuYM9HL5FkJnYXDxtgLsw0d5HhYSOZS67ZHIjIphalwY_l_Tx1BgPn2UF6KgvB38YmTt5xZNJn5bAGFCn_wL_MPvB6-1gmpAJjxyykfndrUKXgjaj62DnNY8YKvGmIPtK2nm79Im6AmJdk7TUUfZd9GJq9LuIW0Dy_ZTiIrNnVs5bFlN_e19g=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF2zJRJXuYM9HL5FkJnYXDxtgLsw0d5HhYSOZS67ZHIjIphalwY_l_Tx1BgPn2UF6KgvB38YmTt5xZNJn5bAGFCn_wL_MPvB6-1gmpAJjxyykfndrUKXgjaj62DnNY8YKvGmIPtK2nm79Im6AmJdk7TUUfZd9GJq9LuIW0Dy_ZTiIrNnVs5bFlN_e19g=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJw66DYL_am5EIutQ9LYDJHWBjM2BvyePMq5lokDAAJ6SgsOU2MvtumzUgkQvZ4P_5WfoAS0WzAGYcEj_ggFhcVdbZ0-f83dRWWxvTQYVpGuI7bxOu031Rb_7R0JaN_DCrRdLnLGJsAm-uigphtCFzuVk3DFwLg5Y45SeMsyZAxGaJ6CNExhdQ8u4XJQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJw66DYL_am5EIutQ9LYDJHWBjM2BvyePMq5lokDAAJ6SgsOU2MvtumzUgkQvZ4P_5WfoAS0WzAGYcEj_ggFhcVdbZ0-f83dRWWxvTQYVpGuI7bxOu031Rb_7R0JaN_DCrRdLnLGJsAm-uigphtCFzuVk3DFwLg5Y45SeMsyZAxGaJ6CNExhdQ8u4XJQ=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's a pretty cool closet. A right triangle floor, with a half-dome ceiling.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-66445664729179393892022-01-17T06:59:00.000-08:002022-01-17T06:59:09.966-08:00Snow covered masonry buildings<p> I awoke to a beautiful 15 inches of fresh powder. I took a few pictures of these masonry buildings covered in snow. The domes, arches, catenary forms: all seem to create interesting topological snow surfaces. </p><p>Sometimes people will ask about how appropriate a masonry roof is for big snow loads? They only get stronger with more weight, and the snow also helps insulate even more. These buildings can handle extreme snow loads.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiB0uUW2-AqkYUaDeslx4VmAaMfRzLCSGe77SmzP4s0Esh8XAq6Ml3-GpMDoHoq35xlfAWUwfJmny_4wu4aVmwXurMTyuT5d5uUJHDK1S53AR5jJloKw1D-gxhifvl9jhBOuawpFt7CPD97piMqYG6CeoT-stTX7uZrIOAb2lywMAZ3z3tzwRt_uRq_Dw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiB0uUW2-AqkYUaDeslx4VmAaMfRzLCSGe77SmzP4s0Esh8XAq6Ml3-GpMDoHoq35xlfAWUwfJmny_4wu4aVmwXurMTyuT5d5uUJHDK1S53AR5jJloKw1D-gxhifvl9jhBOuawpFt7CPD97piMqYG6CeoT-stTX7uZrIOAb2lywMAZ3z3tzwRt_uRq_Dw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View out my bedroom window.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjYz9o-FOKQ18OlnlwQZDhvOuPp6_TZBzSop8aWUu4dS48_JrxDjTAVmk1bVY1r2IfCrQzWfoqYGE4GGj5AMqaHro9yVJP1ced3J3_CwFBKD9MvyHGFvcIiOx82CcamI_9yIOXefFIy-8XtYoW1KyuInbS9sM488sfJpjoq4WDi32bdHowo1zukJjxxw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjYz9o-FOKQ18OlnlwQZDhvOuPp6_TZBzSop8aWUu4dS48_JrxDjTAVmk1bVY1r2IfCrQzWfoqYGE4GGj5AMqaHro9yVJP1ced3J3_CwFBKD9MvyHGFvcIiOx82CcamI_9yIOXefFIy-8XtYoW1KyuInbS9sM488sfJpjoq4WDi32bdHowo1zukJjxxw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_V1zOIIGbbbXnK8Ka0AI56aWw9nY_h7J-2TkU7cNuXZ1InpyZTf3jwvqNhD-qf3M2i_ZUitfIcaJYqEwLbBg2qCO2B7xC1TCJooXWCXHfZwTz8JUYXGt3aSYY7yErsgZPDfENngQXrF62-qzoBk6YByFeHkxFsHa71sfptXV7Fs7F7TqrBqqu4TDosA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdm_xNOkKCiNVOKPa5Dih7Fb6Lrc13yzVe2dv_MjHQuf7Kda26-5zUd8V9Mo1Wm3Sy8L1sF-AMgAFO8STaPqNHtO5zXjDYqCjquw9HfTzL4Vu72YlqvOzqrC8j6INYEbo6DwWVybhvkINkTKTU0raIdhECByXL3c6s9BuCtYEM7JtXSPgwOthEL2ztiw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-27322291473266875372021-10-30T16:45:00.009-07:002021-11-01T12:36:20.401-07:00Assembling a self-supporting masonry dome<p>Here are the basic steps to assemble a first frequency truncated icosahedron from 'pent' and 'hex' concrete block, as provided by Spherical Block. Trace out a circle of radius 3 ft. 1 inch. Arrange the block in a five-fold, or pentagonal pattern, one pent, two hex, [repeat 5X]. Arrange all blocks with tips pointing up. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgqB029HB6ARNEPdbTQ2vzcisQe8kmnpxEdiS1osL48FWAmu7X6bBFlkPvxQ1qsz_4g9KviJY5ESTnVAD4cjYVxqaJCLnIr4MHqWXpAAQSoYdjJ2Pp6QwGdMEUywPiWzOlLV87DBBkGqV/s4032/PXL_20211010_155551496.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgqB029HB6ARNEPdbTQ2vzcisQe8kmnpxEdiS1osL48FWAmu7X6bBFlkPvxQ1qsz_4g9KviJY5ESTnVAD4cjYVxqaJCLnIr4MHqWXpAAQSoYdjJ2Pp6QwGdMEUywPiWzOlLV87DBBkGqV/s320/PXL_20211010_155551496.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next, place blocks with tips pointing down, two pent, one hex, [repeat 5X]. FRP, Fiber Reinforced Plastic rebar is used here, #3, or 3/8 inch diameter. Rebar is 8 ft. 10 inches, and goes from center hex block and is easily bent past two pent and into the next center hex, as shown. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHTLOCWYpznY24f16SCFBi5ugHFpHP5Ac_3IikXUDEVBSY0Mvpqqe1KSG91Kf_-bggoJkb0TMYDZhDXOnwvtjLW6EWCKJ0cBh-sEuf-lMZZu4NSzg9asCyWyU6eVwinzNuN5KHnsrH6YT/s4032/PXL_20211012_141520819.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHTLOCWYpznY24f16SCFBi5ugHFpHP5Ac_3IikXUDEVBSY0Mvpqqe1KSG91Kf_-bggoJkb0TMYDZhDXOnwvtjLW6EWCKJ0cBh-sEuf-lMZZu4NSzg9asCyWyU6eVwinzNuN5KHnsrH6YT/s320/PXL_20211012_141520819.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Additional rebar is provided horizontally, as shown. Length is 41 inches. Rebar is secured with zip ties, to help align the structure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwQ7jkEpuTkoLx7eJ-jBFyZ3qM66_Yf5UyVexuicqvwjKBAaCOUY1mYHFhWDvwb0wKv0ovIeq75LeeRAwZDJS11JYJGEJaqG2GO-G28_Tknp78HAnbz1dMdEM52pbHzuWpRZYgDJe1BKH/s4032/PXL_20211012_141938169.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwQ7jkEpuTkoLx7eJ-jBFyZ3qM66_Yf5UyVexuicqvwjKBAaCOUY1mYHFhWDvwb0wKv0ovIeq75LeeRAwZDJS11JYJGEJaqG2GO-G28_Tknp78HAnbz1dMdEM52pbHzuWpRZYgDJe1BKH/s320/PXL_20211012_141938169.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Hex block are placed, tip pointing up, as shown. </p><p>Because this is a first frequency structure, and is made from block designed for a second frequency structure, wooden shims were used during this dry-stack assembly. This gave the blocks the increased 'wedge' required for first order arrangement. When using mortar, the mortar will be tapered for a first frequency dome; thicker outside.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NSR4xzGYBtEw9-SZPJhx_FR5A4O5EsDDTlHKB4qXXCSVDl13nnlZoTbaIhHUiMIXXLjeRXokUxk3_tETmdC3LjSVnSddjEIDm35AUBG3QiIoP2X4kx63-rLkAr1kcd5IaJvM-1I9HWyk/s4032/PXL_20211012_142334805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NSR4xzGYBtEw9-SZPJhx_FR5A4O5EsDDTlHKB4qXXCSVDl13nnlZoTbaIhHUiMIXXLjeRXokUxk3_tETmdC3LjSVnSddjEIDm35AUBG3QiIoP2X4kx63-rLkAr1kcd5IaJvM-1I9HWyk/s320/PXL_20211012_142334805.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Additional rebar are placed vertically, as shown, attached with zip ties. These are also 41 inches long. Additional pent blocks are placed, as shown</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPS0oZO4WBti3sVn2BezP8ryKD1BiGvQ7oZAVvOZAbG1UwgbyDtGKbt2xbDfLYBJHIMPjnxtUcrIZqUnwYmOClm9Xg9mYEqMuvVxN7CognwbFf9XU6ip4yBFssGrBroqohPYuLDI1epj1/s4032/PXL_20211012_143557388.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPS0oZO4WBti3sVn2BezP8ryKD1BiGvQ7oZAVvOZAbG1UwgbyDtGKbt2xbDfLYBJHIMPjnxtUcrIZqUnwYmOClm9Xg9mYEqMuvVxN7CognwbFf9XU6ip4yBFssGrBroqohPYuLDI1epj1/s320/PXL_20211012_143557388.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>Two more hex blocks are placed, tips down, as shown.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOaXLfBqj4JS41JgWpXsJXX9uCQ_KdEGC8XD4gNKpV3miPJiooa0d1wdikVBGGxR_f8artt37iFBo2J3a_OVRYdzBCefteFFX2u200i_fvBvP5d6na5jVVa1MNeOpIM9taD0k7QpULDNB/s4032/PXL_20211012_163907221.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOaXLfBqj4JS41JgWpXsJXX9uCQ_KdEGC8XD4gNKpV3miPJiooa0d1wdikVBGGxR_f8artt37iFBo2J3a_OVRYdzBCefteFFX2u200i_fvBvP5d6na5jVVa1MNeOpIM9taD0k7QpULDNB/s320/PXL_20211012_163907221.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An additional course of hex block are added, as shown.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNkZYBHGhb021-J1K2R3eJn_P8FWFLhNi1pnuZKU7a4qzHzU8ST3pY9A0fAI7hA7GpRTVc3BsEqowNDTlUm93a9ueLzfQDsDFM1_dYSbr01q3jheZLXoXb_TRYlOvB5zWVVShxmbiHXk-/s4032/PXL_20211012_164657377.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNkZYBHGhb021-J1K2R3eJn_P8FWFLhNi1pnuZKU7a4qzHzU8ST3pY9A0fAI7hA7GpRTVc3BsEqowNDTlUm93a9ueLzfQDsDFM1_dYSbr01q3jheZLXoXb_TRYlOvB5zWVVShxmbiHXk-/s320/PXL_20211012_164657377.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJQRUsaiVphwCSA6XYGrREKqd8k8qWsaVwbiMymCuH5wfuwTZsPHCJxzIIy8uDv0x1PINQDI8Uu88WkMa1_k0vIiq4uwv03BTT8PumEleAubUzCbk04hxLFvSP98xag0BWNXP8m8SApyj/s4032/PXL_20211012_164951255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJQRUsaiVphwCSA6XYGrREKqd8k8qWsaVwbiMymCuH5wfuwTZsPHCJxzIIy8uDv0x1PINQDI8Uu88WkMa1_k0vIiq4uwv03BTT8PumEleAubUzCbk04hxLFvSP98xag0BWNXP8m8SApyj/s320/PXL_20211012_164951255.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Finally, 5 pent blocks are added to the top and final course. All of these block edges would be in close alignment if this were mortared together. Assembly occurs without any additional support scaffolding or centering. This first frequency dome has an outer diameter of around 8 ft.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijod9X4UwGnhpDN_0-cx-nLPUsAvhCm9MfqSnMOnAASA7C4yjWIMMxXckXkpBslQUAt8Uj1gqAhbwhzhXlO2-5DYvUFyz0XWtBt1ig4i_jZVUBAtfVeBYG3xbbQZEqp6VwcvjE6YR3UfRT/s4032/PXL_20211012_170903489.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijod9X4UwGnhpDN_0-cx-nLPUsAvhCm9MfqSnMOnAASA7C4yjWIMMxXckXkpBslQUAt8Uj1gqAhbwhzhXlO2-5DYvUFyz0XWtBt1ig4i_jZVUBAtfVeBYG3xbbQZEqp6VwcvjE6YR3UfRT/s320/PXL_20211012_170903489.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first frequency test was easily disassembled. A second frequency dome is now being assembled.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are the same basic steps, except that the radius is doubled and 4 times as many block are used. This second frequency dome has an outer diameter of around 16 feet. 2 pent, 4 hex, 5X, etc., tips up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikklnXazh0uDik8fjky54UY3CH6iDLNAdtDuqlB0iRlTVtJK7vC73T3uXas3f09lmK6httZU7au4PhUIhsNHUCgt9I4f8CrKoxIEPrgdGnVkZ5RqA7wWhTuez96mTA_ogBY2-okNVjN1_/s4032/PXL_20211030_201305770.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikklnXazh0uDik8fjky54UY3CH6iDLNAdtDuqlB0iRlTVtJK7vC73T3uXas3f09lmK6httZU7au4PhUIhsNHUCgt9I4f8CrKoxIEPrgdGnVkZ5RqA7wWhTuez96mTA_ogBY2-okNVjN1_/s320/PXL_20211030_201305770.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yl0hFqbDQHZtArc4dJDfqIaiojhC5hrK7eApVIPTJk7HLDCBjwIP50-_IrQY8d-pGI_xN2erjiakU7R9fP_0YtSQS-SJwdijhak083mCBvUaPzWdm0tmlDRMXX9av8hb594Pv-vUb3ae/s320/PXL_20211101_192635540.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And so on. It is all self-supporting as it is assembled. Larger domes of higher frequencies can also be made, all from the same block.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgo112AY3TE5N61Q3zlHux3IAOG6s-XLCh5jJUDkrWsmbqd_dGefEpLi6qTsARGduD8ZcF01Ynvlg4fr81hv7Fv7rhoBj8crrzXliiXwN_b08TFxgNbqbEUSwcZjO8hL8e25b_HAVouH8/s4032/PXL_20210810_010347662.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgo112AY3TE5N61Q3zlHux3IAOG6s-XLCh5jJUDkrWsmbqd_dGefEpLi6qTsARGduD8ZcF01Ynvlg4fr81hv7Fv7rhoBj8crrzXliiXwN_b08TFxgNbqbEUSwcZjO8hL8e25b_HAVouH8/s320/PXL_20210810_010347662.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-8339543335346994282021-09-03T15:04:00.004-07:002021-09-04T05:31:27.364-07:00Floor, walls and bond beam<p> <span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.3333px;">This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1660075 ("Topological interlocking manufactured concrete block"). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.</span></p><p><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.3333px;">The <a href="https://masonrydesign.blogspot.com/2021/09/excavating-and-making-foundation-for.html" target="_blank">previous post </a>showed how we excavated, poured the footer and built the stem wall. Following this, the vertical walls were assembled and the floor was installed. </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.3333px;">The floors are made to </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.3333px;">accommodate</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 11.3333px;"> a radiant heating system. First a rigid foam is laid down, on the level compacted ground floor; then "Pex" TM pipe was installed. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2gf_a01DrOuiw12bYqTckCSqW9TPA_LmdftOlqDILjJLxvQyTUT5h6QUQa9suFzvORE1Yr9r1Dc9fzwiLIp_DcPm8uGrdPknucFb8zArxHOx5C5LHf0-nhF3Kwu1geVaYdbGnloo-OZE/s1320/IMG_20180729_161617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2gf_a01DrOuiw12bYqTckCSqW9TPA_LmdftOlqDILjJLxvQyTUT5h6QUQa9suFzvORE1Yr9r1Dc9fzwiLIp_DcPm8uGrdPknucFb8zArxHOx5C5LHf0-nhF3Kwu1geVaYdbGnloo-OZE/s320/IMG_20180729_161617.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigOnaEv2NSsR_KEBz2Jp2ggp4LpxQEM_Y3yGg6zYhdzE3boZXZcWGVIrWFosp3dMLiGcVeqWRwuxtFsGfd9D4X6Az_f4uwO8An2YSFWsUFhn818sUwFk9UiEvXzGeqsYUdLjnfKPhFv-a/s1225/IMG_20180729_161646.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigOnaEv2NSsR_KEBz2Jp2ggp4LpxQEM_Y3yGg6zYhdzE3boZXZcWGVIrWFosp3dMLiGcVeqWRwuxtFsGfd9D4X6Az_f4uwO8An2YSFWsUFhn818sUwFk9UiEvXzGeqsYUdLjnfKPhFv-a/s320/IMG_20180729_161646.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Concrete was then poured on top of the foam and pex, and screeded level, then the floor surface was floated. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fB4xewJn-y8HwEdPCI17ndgeozMLph2lpblb3CbIryLxHVk0EUWqt3g4LEEXz42K7PWC2Y64XeK8iF4Yphaj_gaZbOCzvta3PsSPJR_lVihT3uADIW_jeiEeHYhgDBJ2KBt7XDrcm0Sr/s1225/MVIMG_20180731_120057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fB4xewJn-y8HwEdPCI17ndgeozMLph2lpblb3CbIryLxHVk0EUWqt3g4LEEXz42K7PWC2Y64XeK8iF4Yphaj_gaZbOCzvta3PsSPJR_lVihT3uADIW_jeiEeHYhgDBJ2KBt7XDrcm0Sr/s320/MVIMG_20180731_120057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m18XZP9ykTV7O5sT5JkmaoSPe8Und173jzyYvCe-7L9cLUDMCYJ8KNOq-2BzkioeMeOaHMx6q5i9Rf34KBQB4twHBh6u0C6WvoxWlgVJgGmEP2c_I3yiEvQEqTjYXiuMjQeCmvY9qg2U/s1225/MVIMG_20180731_130736.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_m18XZP9ykTV7O5sT5JkmaoSPe8Und173jzyYvCe-7L9cLUDMCYJ8KNOq-2BzkioeMeOaHMx6q5i9Rf34KBQB4twHBh6u0C6WvoxWlgVJgGmEP2c_I3yiEvQEqTjYXiuMjQeCmvY9qg2U/s320/MVIMG_20180731_130736.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjnblMchwsej_0is4_eospMqOMnsd1zv1-wkUWW5RcbpG84L20xmBi7bzO-ul6N9fYgAxyWXuxBBbM-BR0KsYEnWGJdt2ZRXOgJRR67mRCeUeoc_BEtwvZy5JX8Irs7TQAfxPF8R17MW5/s1225/IMG_20180731_152529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjnblMchwsej_0is4_eospMqOMnsd1zv1-wkUWW5RcbpG84L20xmBi7bzO-ul6N9fYgAxyWXuxBBbM-BR0KsYEnWGJdt2ZRXOgJRR67mRCeUeoc_BEtwvZy5JX8Irs7TQAfxPF8R17MW5/s320/IMG_20180731_152529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1D1IeQiczvVJl5XwNZWOwjZtHajxhgVwm0iUTgF2sYVD3WHh4VoH3DXiDVIL6k9PbNALmndor7JcD2w_4mnGjly_XxaiQnhnfFeSOnmV6tZ-JbmfUTXmkeIO0UNZuKUmtMgspEN02o5L/s1225/IMG_20180801_111935.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1D1IeQiczvVJl5XwNZWOwjZtHajxhgVwm0iUTgF2sYVD3WHh4VoH3DXiDVIL6k9PbNALmndor7JcD2w_4mnGjly_XxaiQnhnfFeSOnmV6tZ-JbmfUTXmkeIO0UNZuKUmtMgspEN02o5L/s320/IMG_20180801_111935.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7bACB2ow1RZqa-p1B2Pl_3Jk9evWstLZGq3q0DmWnist_JJnY0E_RS9W0_PreBSJCC5nr_jnvIFFk1WO5VhyphenhyphenFCzXrREKzZ_gErUOqRBrCAjRNkxFWtOy5BExGiFg5c8fVBr_2tTSrEFu/s1225/IMG_20180801_111953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7bACB2ow1RZqa-p1B2Pl_3Jk9evWstLZGq3q0DmWnist_JJnY0E_RS9W0_PreBSJCC5nr_jnvIFFk1WO5VhyphenhyphenFCzXrREKzZ_gErUOqRBrCAjRNkxFWtOy5BExGiFg5c8fVBr_2tTSrEFu/s320/IMG_20180801_111953.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The walls were built up to header height, then a temporary scaffolding was built for roof assembly. All exterior doorways had a masonry arch built over them, using wooden forms. The arches are fast and easy to assemble, they are also inexpensive.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanmn_B8JUb8LcbGO9v7MzDi03i9b5_8ZLdcNRtvn5Vuvqsh7uia_RJVw6Mk8wuwNOFe5tBwqd3-23IDSFtdGrSxeKYd7reEWi89VUApYhckxCkr2kxkP45kn-CjRZkEhRO-uRUizWKOdX/s1320/IMG_20180819_115406.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanmn_B8JUb8LcbGO9v7MzDi03i9b5_8ZLdcNRtvn5Vuvqsh7uia_RJVw6Mk8wuwNOFe5tBwqd3-23IDSFtdGrSxeKYd7reEWi89VUApYhckxCkr2kxkP45kn-CjRZkEhRO-uRUizWKOdX/s320/IMG_20180819_115406.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHR8Pw-AZnnyXmoFeUpuR66-8EeQt7Ky3u8_WdpjBE31jcwws7OFKTsk1BZyjcM_J1AIZ4wLYRmcMnXASyQPiEAqYaWtmV4RH0t6pF8b2refFvCcYVy9-C_qbqfekTh5HIxOGB2aXPjPtf/s1225/IMG_20180820_102226.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHR8Pw-AZnnyXmoFeUpuR66-8EeQt7Ky3u8_WdpjBE31jcwws7OFKTsk1BZyjcM_J1AIZ4wLYRmcMnXASyQPiEAqYaWtmV4RH0t6pF8b2refFvCcYVy9-C_qbqfekTh5HIxOGB2aXPjPtf/s320/IMG_20180820_102226.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYiaw7vPX72sui9vYqZuzaX0NEX_ehusdvw2j3wGUiBG0HK8yyITeEb40M98N0w3zx5qsGoZM0maR8X2kKzfYQDT2QajCQvMyELR9M_iajT6DakeQJRoSyRJEKMaVurc9XKOPSPugt8ns/s1225/IMG_20180821_134731.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYiaw7vPX72sui9vYqZuzaX0NEX_ehusdvw2j3wGUiBG0HK8yyITeEb40M98N0w3zx5qsGoZM0maR8X2kKzfYQDT2QajCQvMyELR9M_iajT6DakeQJRoSyRJEKMaVurc9XKOPSPugt8ns/s320/IMG_20180821_134731.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpi6MpXqaVDyzcIs9Q7cQn5xVEPx-fdLiflwMIw9t-c5KHPP99TdvTSJrD7GIPw5OgHwbKos-6HjoqyMyWkR2VsmtLmax1KmWQBeQpov1dvYkNpX_C3Jf1715Nyik9TmJSizoVzMbnfup/s1225/IMG_20180823_173545.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpi6MpXqaVDyzcIs9Q7cQn5xVEPx-fdLiflwMIw9t-c5KHPP99TdvTSJrD7GIPw5OgHwbKos-6HjoqyMyWkR2VsmtLmax1KmWQBeQpov1dvYkNpX_C3Jf1715Nyik9TmJSizoVzMbnfup/s320/IMG_20180823_173545.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">After all the vertical walls were assembled, forms were built at the top of these walls; rebar was placed in this cavity as per the PE specification, and the form was poured with concrete to create a reinforced bond beam. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjix7jeCizzZDLiZssBtsfOaNW5d3HEVv000Gl0Qz_Y7Ae51nso_RqAM3OKYHn1zve_Tb2FkJNXpdbp1zxVpM7geauUhls_l9iXtVHFLz4pcISZQWaCxOC5G9q2tjNxpkkTJe5N7KRW9LEk/s1225/IMG_20180906_183926.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjix7jeCizzZDLiZssBtsfOaNW5d3HEVv000Gl0Qz_Y7Ae51nso_RqAM3OKYHn1zve_Tb2FkJNXpdbp1zxVpM7geauUhls_l9iXtVHFLz4pcISZQWaCxOC5G9q2tjNxpkkTJe5N7KRW9LEk/s320/IMG_20180906_183926.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEoxcCAoBtMiaV3WbMYk4zVkpnIGCdOeDib6KCJS-EmwfU5UeWDy913e3NUJeDTy0RTjBhSzCw1SOgAMLcKBKy3ZapmXjB1utS2CRlZhV5l11XQxcsmpBUMaLCbSXTIuWGYsTlvpntqzi/s1225/IMG_20180906_183958.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-oCrPnIrPn4Kq95hul5olHOwhj0KP1vgBMKVYPLCGJqKMkS9L43Rsran52TSoEdAUOordZLJjiiakQ_XrGWEcQM1B-WSFCWgd7kgrXibZS56Cu24bYPav8rrf4rlCFGfrEnFL4xmBXrt/s1225/IMG_20180912_161325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-oCrPnIrPn4Kq95hul5olHOwhj0KP1vgBMKVYPLCGJqKMkS9L43Rsran52TSoEdAUOordZLJjiiakQ_XrGWEcQM1B-WSFCWgd7kgrXibZS56Cu24bYPav8rrf4rlCFGfrEnFL4xmBXrt/s320/IMG_20180912_161325.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_wC6-GMhYVY9MEdAPW_OTSGbGZmV1QIMAQWjnKtMahlx6Cwgc5yPWx8hyVW3fwU4sR9UzdmW0LFfkBYrozwvHy8wiVDy8uJQiVjT0823PpD5B07-DqIYNjjriOcu5wbmPMXXpl_sohTP/s1225/IMG_20180923_162016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_wC6-GMhYVY9MEdAPW_OTSGbGZmV1QIMAQWjnKtMahlx6Cwgc5yPWx8hyVW3fwU4sR9UzdmW0LFfkBYrozwvHy8wiVDy8uJQiVjT0823PpD5B07-DqIYNjjriOcu5wbmPMXXpl_sohTP/s320/IMG_20180923_162016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With the bond beam made, roof construction was about to begin. That's what I'll describe and show next.<span style="text-align: center;">.</span></div><p></p>Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-36211326504891123832021-09-01T08:37:00.005-07:002021-09-01T08:37:50.451-07:00Excavating and making a foundation for a test building<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">This material is based
upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant
No. 1660075 ("Topological interlocking manufactured concrete
block"). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations
expressed in this material are those of the author, and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;">My company was awarded a
Phase II funded project by the National Science Foundation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main objective of this work was to
demonstrate our innovative masonry systems, and to obtain a positive evaluation
report from the International Code Council- Evaluation Services. In order to
achieve this, it was strongly suggested by ICC-ES that we work with a Registered
Design Professional architect and a licensed Professional Engineer to design
and build a test or sample building for the purposes of evaluation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;">We began with the building
design, in consultation with Robert Ferry, RDP, AIA and Cheng-Ning Jong, PE. The
basic approach was to keep the entire structure under compression, being squeezed
together, which is how masonry is strongest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We incorporated several different types of arches, domes and half-domes,
configured with flying buttresses.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4fABmgcsCZ9NHTJN5UG5CxHpFJK9jysnXsk4smYT-luI0K9yJ5v_EDaARaNi26ndoq983DdHEHuxeIEyPvmvX0J1XOgUQrGq3ecwrJqp53VnH_WsVEVAmFFOyVsFYrbGq8QuSlclxb84/s1111/plans+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1111" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4fABmgcsCZ9NHTJN5UG5CxHpFJK9jysnXsk4smYT-luI0K9yJ5v_EDaARaNi26ndoq983DdHEHuxeIEyPvmvX0J1XOgUQrGq3ecwrJqp53VnH_WsVEVAmFFOyVsFYrbGq8QuSlclxb84/w617-h406/plans+1.JPG" width="617" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1oaHvyursm6GZ8PZr70h7_R9avnBM7Xn5-eCEjdu_HlGj67M-m3KP15_0aCBD-5dSLyb62Kvm6znxQo01sYXNlyapJjIf97Evr1yuQjgixSs_mZvPHQjg7V7bj85ElfPXTv2khp2mY6B/s1113/plans+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1113" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1oaHvyursm6GZ8PZr70h7_R9avnBM7Xn5-eCEjdu_HlGj67M-m3KP15_0aCBD-5dSLyb62Kvm6znxQo01sYXNlyapJjIf97Evr1yuQjgixSs_mZvPHQjg7V7bj85ElfPXTv2khp2mY6B/w589-h387/plans+2.JPG" width="589" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj73HLwXAhuEPfe4tRUJvvbc_D6d5Vq8e9_aiRO9HyB-U5IqE4JtgmKyTZPOrxkTiFmsFL_3Q_C4n5uExNhSp4LLW7pWiElmsyap_sTmxaI-AzF596BeXU3MOY3nbiN90MoUPj8r4bts65/s1111/plans+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1111" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj73HLwXAhuEPfe4tRUJvvbc_D6d5Vq8e9_aiRO9HyB-U5IqE4JtgmKyTZPOrxkTiFmsFL_3Q_C4n5uExNhSp4LLW7pWiElmsyap_sTmxaI-AzF596BeXU3MOY3nbiN90MoUPj8r4bts65/w609-h402/plans+4.JPG" width="609" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Work began with excavation
for the footer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This work was done room
by room, in sequence, simply so we had a place to put all the excavated dirt
while we worked.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aQQ9BMLKuosqdmZRwIC28HA2jq8hhXCcCq8iR8GXUDQFzI7UDJCGH_RCjbyawT1ph-n8EEUbr08I9M31pqjuTg2GkKEGorIsXHqn13hJiP2o5wGofsulj7Ecx-L-CY4x3VjB7Y94iZo-/s1320/IMG_20180526_152748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aQQ9BMLKuosqdmZRwIC28HA2jq8hhXCcCq8iR8GXUDQFzI7UDJCGH_RCjbyawT1ph-n8EEUbr08I9M31pqjuTg2GkKEGorIsXHqn13hJiP2o5wGofsulj7Ecx-L-CY4x3VjB7Y94iZo-/s320/IMG_20180526_152748.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCHQC8dBWUpD4Gpztq_duopq2HnS1SjdnA7_LiR2TPSVGJa9JqurgE7zBoEbiXyNZPoAC6rNqdCoHVe4mvolBdJr9ceTl_fEtUNMehy9Smrb3tk-GdeS_C61hLr9zIcWOMHpB4IlpulY3/s1225/IMG_20180526_152854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCHQC8dBWUpD4Gpztq_duopq2HnS1SjdnA7_LiR2TPSVGJa9JqurgE7zBoEbiXyNZPoAC6rNqdCoHVe4mvolBdJr9ceTl_fEtUNMehy9Smrb3tk-GdeS_C61hLr9zIcWOMHpB4IlpulY3/s320/IMG_20180526_152854.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;">The footer had its
reinforcement rebar detailed by the PE. All footer sections used formwork to
establish dimensions. Rebar laid flat, horizontally, was tied to the vertical
rebar which would go up into the walls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was done using ninety-degree elbows of rebar. All rebar was “Gatorbar”
basalt-based Fiber Reinforced Polymer rebar, which is lightweight, stronger
than steel in tension, and never rusts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This rebar also bends easily to provide curves for arched roofs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xoRIeS4FqxyVdX37QXCPlLzESSysc0SjAPvjm1PXVmcyeDO7siZ9kaKxen2gvNWRhlxGIK-HM_P3QJtKoCSbH95G3uqxqdbtnr5_L7IboFgc1ykBdMq4D9Wt4WidjP8RnZ80rx5zf9c7/s919/IMG_20180608_155928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="689" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xoRIeS4FqxyVdX37QXCPlLzESSysc0SjAPvjm1PXVmcyeDO7siZ9kaKxen2gvNWRhlxGIK-HM_P3QJtKoCSbH95G3uqxqdbtnr5_L7IboFgc1ykBdMq4D9Wt4WidjP8RnZ80rx5zf9c7/s320/IMG_20180608_155928.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDDFLDQhb7gxf6oGNf5ujvJmHveF2XmDaqSacUW7dySpXzJl4Zc6olVp3InZ4V5zI1TtyoGEiqB-5u5ANtQ8q1XW-ITx_faRJChXqP0rO_S8YNqXGXDpluYQ9RO2CFxAFoidl52QntwHK/s1225/IMG_20180608_160005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDDFLDQhb7gxf6oGNf5ujvJmHveF2XmDaqSacUW7dySpXzJl4Zc6olVp3InZ4V5zI1TtyoGEiqB-5u5ANtQ8q1XW-ITx_faRJChXqP0rO_S8YNqXGXDpluYQ9RO2CFxAFoidl52QntwHK/s320/IMG_20180608_160005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Once the footer was poured,
stem walls were built to make the foundation come up to grade, where the
vertical walls began, above grade. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvnOxLkOlV5lk5ZFg6n2qK85UopLL4QJ6R4CLOqyCVYPrdRUyHrQtG2A6AL0Weq9yagGyLlvRN62sKTkOsPxgZn00YybHxNowmKwWSxy4AqjGhIsCiox8Xc7sNjpjoh6p4ewjnO6MOjtN/s1225/IMG_20180611_130845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvnOxLkOlV5lk5ZFg6n2qK85UopLL4QJ6R4CLOqyCVYPrdRUyHrQtG2A6AL0Weq9yagGyLlvRN62sKTkOsPxgZn00YybHxNowmKwWSxy4AqjGhIsCiox8Xc7sNjpjoh6p4ewjnO6MOjtN/s320/IMG_20180611_130845.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbB7x90Zpy1WX1JkvfrqrvoWkVRZDFNorcJFgabWvgkw2An-kpzs6Qa-cys78uYzvMngdCWJh002N0QfcRZGDal0wCi3lvtbRp9PyCF8641soH6KeqWweEbYOWDWrIspzOsmhseuopstlZ/s1225/IMG_20180612_172311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbB7x90Zpy1WX1JkvfrqrvoWkVRZDFNorcJFgabWvgkw2An-kpzs6Qa-cys78uYzvMngdCWJh002N0QfcRZGDal0wCi3lvtbRp9PyCF8641soH6KeqWweEbYOWDWrIspzOsmhseuopstlZ/s320/IMG_20180612_172311.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTddmXL1xt2-7yVQGS8z8Uxvj0IcWQZf72AXLSZLlqvvuEvTyIJGG1LOsXIQjOUKQHJQwTRjpdswEhpuLKPdDmLcu7GfOZRhmmJm51ZAJtOVUmrIbTuy0A68pUiuJYXJEs2cIt-zE0Xjs/s919/IMG_20180616_190019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="689" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTddmXL1xt2-7yVQGS8z8Uxvj0IcWQZf72AXLSZLlqvvuEvTyIJGG1LOsXIQjOUKQHJQwTRjpdswEhpuLKPdDmLcu7GfOZRhmmJm51ZAJtOVUmrIbTuy0A68pUiuJYXJEs2cIt-zE0Xjs/s320/IMG_20180616_190019.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0_iIdIdfICnmq_UN2_PSLCC2EA2X0U5wZ1z_cwjRJo-Bg-tioE_IK2dBsg4pfsEXbp14nIDXCcIXhzUtP4SoIdmSasocT78d5chTp28PxZVU7uL-TTKoTQRd00pIFzZI9d8Tdn33_mwY/s1225/IMG_20180616_190140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0_iIdIdfICnmq_UN2_PSLCC2EA2X0U5wZ1z_cwjRJo-Bg-tioE_IK2dBsg4pfsEXbp14nIDXCcIXhzUtP4SoIdmSasocT78d5chTp28PxZVU7uL-TTKoTQRd00pIFzZI9d8Tdn33_mwY/s320/IMG_20180616_190140.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; text-align: left;">After the stem walls were
built, the floor was filled back in with the excavated earth and compacted to a
solid mass.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; text-align: left;"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrgt_ZqyFnl7OVeqKrmeIDdYoiFDu62EirWBLt_6RqIZ_BnSeO_Q4jW_e9uAYjUrWtA96GU2cE689WcdrBnNKgw4l2YxjAOrhAOXujm7RPKcVvMq5ZqF59cMBNxGPVV1uaacmU-8MT5tD/s1225/IMG_20180625_200214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrgt_ZqyFnl7OVeqKrmeIDdYoiFDu62EirWBLt_6RqIZ_BnSeO_Q4jW_e9uAYjUrWtA96GU2cE689WcdrBnNKgw4l2YxjAOrhAOXujm7RPKcVvMq5ZqF59cMBNxGPVV1uaacmU-8MT5tD/s320/IMG_20180625_200214.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEQ1GOQMU-5lEfrTuNZ-AeTAzGDTQvcx8iDD1lLscVJ78CDXu3lgO9Az3tWjgOFzyA2LNJ87ldClJcokseWHmLYth8RMncQYFYUr2creWN6Z2wmIDw8r9I5lixhC3W3fscj562PdqUJ1x/s1225/IMG_20180706_195640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEQ1GOQMU-5lEfrTuNZ-AeTAzGDTQvcx8iDD1lLscVJ78CDXu3lgO9Az3tWjgOFzyA2LNJ87ldClJcokseWHmLYth8RMncQYFYUr2creWN6Z2wmIDw8r9I5lixhC3W3fscj562PdqUJ1x/s320/IMG_20180706_195640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTE42DA9pJ99PPE4u_oU0AxXuwIcqxCAusfiCOLhJmIYh1VOWdD6ecGREsjc_-6j74zggNWlFfAtBvDuiHGv_YHpSKFUOYxmW5x5uj-JIF-N6NneotJpWmO-s8H4XQzO7_frr2sWSn4Jdh/s1225/IMG_20180711_201039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTE42DA9pJ99PPE4u_oU0AxXuwIcqxCAusfiCOLhJmIYh1VOWdD6ecGREsjc_-6j74zggNWlFfAtBvDuiHGv_YHpSKFUOYxmW5x5uj-JIF-N6NneotJpWmO-s8H4XQzO7_frr2sWSn4Jdh/s320/IMG_20180711_201039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxSnwEIATiWkmd9irJRBezwI1ag2rIUX6_5vNHIoRcocmtgov1tQa3WLkEZCuWgBUKUl55QZQB_zvPhI4q3jddfAXlVdDOdDBtMx6FvZUrBl97KANupEvdaqh3XYUjNx_9xsx8ub3ZkoD/s1225/IMG_20180726_165452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxSnwEIATiWkmd9irJRBezwI1ag2rIUX6_5vNHIoRcocmtgov1tQa3WLkEZCuWgBUKUl55QZQB_zvPhI4q3jddfAXlVdDOdDBtMx6FvZUrBl97KANupEvdaqh3XYUjNx_9xsx8ub3ZkoD/s320/IMG_20180726_165452.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 8.5pt; text-align: left;">My next blog entry will
talk about the next steps in construction.</span></div></span></div><p></p>Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-92202396027707382012021-05-06T14:03:00.001-07:002021-05-06T14:03:38.224-07:00Evaluation Report Issued by ICC-ES<p> Today my company <a href="http://www.masonryarches.com" target="_blank">Spherical Block, LLC</a> was issued an Evaluation Report <a href="https://icc-es.org/report-listing/ESR-3992/" target="_blank">(ESR-3992)</a> by the International Code Council-Evaluation Services (<a href="https://icc-es.org/" target="_blank">ICC-ES</a>). This puts our masonry technology in accordance with the International Building Code and the Residential Building Code.</p>Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-90842591797351186522021-04-25T13:29:00.000-07:002021-04-25T13:29:04.258-07:00Sea Life Habitats and Masonry Structures<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Eight years ago, I wrote a blog entry in this space on “Sea
Life Habitats and Masonry Structures.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two
days ago, a friend pointed out to me that two of the images were no longer
active links, he asked me to edit it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
found out that if you go to “draft” then your entry is automatically deleted,
and there’s nothing you can do about it. Except to re-write it, so here I am,
re-writing. If anyone asks me to edit a blog entry again, I will not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lesson learned.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For decades, mankind has known that sunken ships act as
refugees and sanctuaries for underwater life: providing shelter, encouraging biodiversity,
and even creating diving attractions for underwater enthusiasts and serious
divers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Old ships which are no longer
economically viable are regularly sunk to create these sea life habitats,
encourage biodiversity and to create attractions for divers.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1LDVkGqi3qs71n_5ghReYkR3pFKfrEBEYgvfCqZoRBzutjTZVtFm25lESBn-0Qo8AH1MuXCduwuilTDge-GzEvVrwoanj7-I23F_4kQBEqd5OBxLiyLx0HMrKsgrgys8Wnukege7THca/s1200/sunken-ships-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1LDVkGqi3qs71n_5ghReYkR3pFKfrEBEYgvfCqZoRBzutjTZVtFm25lESBn-0Qo8AH1MuXCduwuilTDge-GzEvVrwoanj7-I23F_4kQBEqd5OBxLiyLx0HMrKsgrgys8Wnukege7THca/s320/sunken-ships-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">This same role is fulfilled with underwater structures that
are purpose built, to act as sanctuaries and to increase biodiversity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are several advantages to these purposely
designed, built and installed underwater structures, over simply sinking an old
obsolete ship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, these old ships
tend to be a source of pollution, as they are typically fouled with oil, gas
and other contaminants which eventually leak into the surrounding environment.
Second, concrete can be formulated so as to promote coral growth, as is done by
companies like <a href="https://econcretetech.com/" target="_blank">ECOncrete</a>, whose work has been successfully deployed around the
world.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1RfbmkwK1gIaQ74LgYVKQMgZdaT3R4U19BQW2g-KO4Bz3PdEwkONkYv0BNzI2dVY8meVmMA1l4g0A1Qv3Nj6UirfLXxXPyf64e-Sx6FOznyWekZvLUTDkY40DQF7hdutOKP-2fTfcyX25/s2048/02-shipwreck-fish-nationalgeographic_1425780.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1RfbmkwK1gIaQ74LgYVKQMgZdaT3R4U19BQW2g-KO4Bz3PdEwkONkYv0BNzI2dVY8meVmMA1l4g0A1Qv3Nj6UirfLXxXPyf64e-Sx6FOznyWekZvLUTDkY40DQF7hdutOKP-2fTfcyX25/s320/02-shipwreck-fish-nationalgeographic_1425780.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Underwater concrete structures can fulfill several different
roles to encourage sea life biodiversity and to provide sanctuary for fish and
other life, including coral and all of the variety of underwater life which
fill our seas. For decades, sea life has been threatened by massive industrial
fishing operations, as performed by large multi-national corporations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The impact of this type and scale of
commercial fishing has been devastating on the populations of fish and sea life
targeted by these operations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
phenomenon was well described in the recent documentary “<a href="https://www.seaspiracy.org/" target="_blank">Seaspiracy</a>” which
describes this conspiracy on the high seas.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdyINd1za628csFdYloPobChuvONyap7Wxvg8S-7p3btE0ogBQcrOlNFn49BEcYjV85n0EMJc5CVcXqCjvTQOCMVL4jZDf3wds3mEIYTWw2SXsbCVLRhK7b2BnhsI-dlo5JDrb4p5UUPa/s655/artificial+reef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="655" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdyINd1za628csFdYloPobChuvONyap7Wxvg8S-7p3btE0ogBQcrOlNFn49BEcYjV85n0EMJc5CVcXqCjvTQOCMVL4jZDf3wds3mEIYTWw2SXsbCVLRhK7b2BnhsI-dlo5JDrb4p5UUPa/s320/artificial+reef.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Underwater structures located relatively close to the shore
also perform another helpful role: they can dampen waves, attenuating their
impact on the shore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can create a
significant buffer during severe weather events, like hurricanes and tropical
storms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By locating underwater
structures off shore, the impact of a storm surge can be drastically diminished,
reducing risks for coastal habitants and reducing the damage from these events.
The risks from these storm surges and extreme weather events are increasing
greatly with climate change and the resulting sea level rise.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMBInQbJsIeT9884NeY_VaH-n_Pvd33AtDz18fBi2H8dAZbE8GoXRv19dr5k1hgAnL43KIkXM7JvTaBst6Kpp02Z0pavMRnVbC-f2uA0_mcIK9kK-NGOxemPi_BasyCHi0BvPxM9Wi4EE/s512/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMBInQbJsIeT9884NeY_VaH-n_Pvd33AtDz18fBi2H8dAZbE8GoXRv19dr5k1hgAnL43KIkXM7JvTaBst6Kpp02Z0pavMRnVbC-f2uA0_mcIK9kK-NGOxemPi_BasyCHi0BvPxM9Wi4EE/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">My company, <a href="https://www.masonryarches.com/" target="_blank">Spherical Block LLC</a>, has developed specialty
manufactured concrete block which can form arches, domes, flying buttresses and
other unique arched masonry forms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Recently we obtained two <a href="https://icc-es.org/report-listing/esl-1266/" target="_blank">Product</a> <a href="https://icc-es.org/report-listing/esl-1304/" target="_blank">Listings</a> from the International Code
Council-Evaluation Services (<a href="https://icc-es.org/" target="_blank">ICC-ES</a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Currently we
have an Evaluation Report pending with ICC-ES.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are teaming up with other leaders
in the construction industry to bring this exciting new technology to the
construction marketplace. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiddbKD9DiPUjydmB1YHzHiXc-nPQ_cZJo7pLFJVkVLeLBs42I9RgHHH3CKu5kig4xoxa4QZRA3HVOgiHdWse5nNplF0XrpYkjwJy6wBZoRugibi89UTlGBZKbbQwR_h2OmG2FERmeNkI2/s950/wor5_k4b_abb_4-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="950" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiddbKD9DiPUjydmB1YHzHiXc-nPQ_cZJo7pLFJVkVLeLBs42I9RgHHH3CKu5kig4xoxa4QZRA3HVOgiHdWse5nNplF0XrpYkjwJy6wBZoRugibi89UTlGBZKbbQwR_h2OmG2FERmeNkI2/s320/wor5_k4b_abb_4-24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">While we have not yet deployed this masonry system
underwater yet, it is easy to imagine that these structures could provide a
safe sanctuary for fish and other sea life, promoting coral growth, and
encouraging biodiversity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fish could
swim into the open portals made available in our dome and arch structures,
finding safety and shelter from predators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It could even provide some safety from the industrial fishing operations
which plague our oceans, until we are better able to manage these operations
toward a sustainable model.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslKXYd7CpdRLCwh46r9AfGm8FS1qKnpwxOOajQuJXKSnD1s3AiJAawO9geipYHl-TVXooeAnyrmaXCoCyJHKC5WTgrjU1FAlwacPuGMwk7d1vwnlkVhrQyfBcDMf1C4zawNI0zcPhALp4/s2048/bio01-103017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslKXYd7CpdRLCwh46r9AfGm8FS1qKnpwxOOajQuJXKSnD1s3AiJAawO9geipYHl-TVXooeAnyrmaXCoCyJHKC5WTgrjU1FAlwacPuGMwk7d1vwnlkVhrQyfBcDMf1C4zawNI0zcPhALp4/s320/bio01-103017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">These structures could create “hot spots” of underwater life
and increased biodiversity, acting as popular attractions for divers, fishermen
and other sea-based sporting activities. In this role, they could help promote
economic activity for those communities adjacent to them.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw91NHS0ZSpwD3LgB4Y0NghCMkJeRtscUqdEWlrtOsTzeXe_5GbGGJyFOwzzmGBjcHsIY2Opc5ZmEXVkcF82iLFqsXd_PYPRg0ch4LFIGuv64wnI5WSrpyQejOsfqjBb4IziyzgclUvt8q/s1235/img010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="1235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw91NHS0ZSpwD3LgB4Y0NghCMkJeRtscUqdEWlrtOsTzeXe_5GbGGJyFOwzzmGBjcHsIY2Opc5ZmEXVkcF82iLFqsXd_PYPRg0ch4LFIGuv64wnI5WSrpyQejOsfqjBb4IziyzgclUvt8q/s320/img010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-9037313174376767472020-12-02T17:54:00.001-08:002020-12-02T17:54:35.269-08:00Product Listing by the International Code Council- Evaluation Services<p> Today (December 2nd 2020) my company Spherical Block LLC received a Product Listing from the International Code Council-Evaluation Services (ICC-ES). This puts my company's technology in accordance with the International Building Code (IBC) which is written by ICC. This was a long, tedious, difficult and expensive process, but it's necessary for any new construction technology. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavbocG3359mWk3lN41M9Ar_v10GRywroNuFxdzBkZpHah-E6SCYL0LfrorwIKJV-k2oJLIsZ1xRqvOocvRFbb_cHHI7_BqFlWYe0QHsZJ01iUQxenyeWoeNACtFPZfeEmXB4zf8bH6PZK/s701/12-06736_ES_New+Listing_Mark_Final_R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="701" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavbocG3359mWk3lN41M9Ar_v10GRywroNuFxdzBkZpHah-E6SCYL0LfrorwIKJV-k2oJLIsZ1xRqvOocvRFbb_cHHI7_BqFlWYe0QHsZJ01iUQxenyeWoeNACtFPZfeEmXB4zf8bH6PZK/s320/12-06736_ES_New+Listing_Mark_Final_R.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So hooray! It's a big step that I am glad to have accomplished and behind me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are two pages from the listing itself: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcowwo0DSx462CDowPucm7MoSkCIJp3Apmi1vkvVif1NZuhnAeaXAHC0dYe-0BrG3D1_-mvNtne9TRq2PY9gC0YW5cKnXPqmGfVo_L2Ppc7B8_TEhamXHziSR8scHC22hBClQTNaPWRoN/s869/listing+p.+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="612" height="846" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcowwo0DSx462CDowPucm7MoSkCIJp3Apmi1vkvVif1NZuhnAeaXAHC0dYe-0BrG3D1_-mvNtne9TRq2PY9gC0YW5cKnXPqmGfVo_L2Ppc7B8_TEhamXHziSR8scHC22hBClQTNaPWRoN/w596-h846/listing+p.+1.JPG" width="596" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwle8yk6DmHVRqsWHG5XR1t_r_nBMwvuS58lIMdwxd_vpM370zzZyY3196mwtMGFFT2klLIcEbprybzawco006VCAAdisXA2XJS6lvAPjbXnNSlgUeRGzZ_wess6C73Y_w4ZVfVWKjx8o/s889/listing+p.+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="623" height="826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwle8yk6DmHVRqsWHG5XR1t_r_nBMwvuS58lIMdwxd_vpM370zzZyY3196mwtMGFFT2klLIcEbprybzawco006VCAAdisXA2XJS6lvAPjbXnNSlgUeRGzZ_wess6C73Y_w4ZVfVWKjx8o/w579-h826/listing+p.+2.JPG" width="579" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So there it is, another important step in commercialization of an idea completed. ICC-ES Product Listing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px;">This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1660075 ("Topological interlocking manufactured concrete block"). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-13580753583701692702020-10-29T13:32:00.000-07:002020-10-29T13:32:00.072-07:00An Article in Masonry Magazine about my Company's Joint Development with ProtectiFlex<p> Here is an <a href="https://www.masonrymagazine.com/blog/2020/09/30/protectiflex-masonry-up-to-the-challenge/" target="_blank">article</a> published in the November 2020 issue of Masonry Magazine, about my company's (<a href="https://www.masonryarches.com/" target="_blank">Spherical Block, LLC</a>) joint technology development with <a href="https://www.protectiflex.com/" target="_blank">ProtectiFlex</a>.</p>Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-10436444151632977762020-08-04T16:43:00.007-07:002020-08-07T08:08:54.418-07:00Cover article in Masonry MagazineI was asked to write an article for Masonry Magazine about my company's (Spherical Block, LLC) technology. <a href="https://www.masonrymagazine.com/blog/2020/07/21/spherical-block-llc-a-new-way-to-build-with-masonry/" target="_blank">Here it is,</a> the cover story for the August 2020 issue. A big thank you to the Masonry Contractor's Association of America. Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-46069967741077885422020-05-05T16:43:00.000-07:002020-05-05T16:43:23.967-07:00Article on Concrete Batteries<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was asked to write a short summary about the concept of using potassium geopolymer as an electrical capacitor or battery. <a href="https://www.structuremag.org/?p=15889">This article</a> was published in STRUCTURE magazine on May 1, 2020.</div>
Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-78239076701577686522020-05-05T16:39:00.003-07:002020-05-05T16:39:57.245-07:00Article on Innovation in Masonry Today<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was asked to write <a href="https://www.structuremag.org/?p=15870&fbclid=IwAR23_fSMiP1J10-FFRdCPCGLzl0uJU0cKt-xFRQMJ2MxMGjJ5cEjykqj9OM">an article</a> for the May 2020 issue of STRUCTURE magazine, on innovation in masonry today. <a href="https://www.structuremag.org/?p=15870&fbclid=IwAR23_fSMiP1J10-FFRdCPCGLzl0uJU0cKt-xFRQMJ2MxMGjJ5cEjykqj9OM">This article</a> was published May 1, 2020. </div>
Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-45798603493864600652019-09-26T07:40:00.000-07:002019-09-26T07:40:47.145-07:00Another short video summary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxjqgmgpRAw&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1FgfCm6l4JSl4N66zd6oXWPFzgUsph79gqXXa_4gwtKfBa6KvKSHXK9x0">short video clip</a> showing some of the work completed during the summer, 2019.<br />
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Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-67986298406782667382019-06-25T10:11:00.000-07:002019-06-25T10:11:23.497-07:00A short video summary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2ClaT6eXIM&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1FwYS6zx8G6I7r4hH5izF9JtlBDbWQHMcttXP4O6k_b_qksv5vqbyZntA">short video summary</a> of my company's technology.</div>
Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-7475446678095653192019-06-12T04:28:00.001-07:002019-06-13T13:18:50.918-07:00Drone footage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here's a <a href="https://dms.licdn.com/playback/C4E05AQGpDumI45QWQA/2ce8a43277694b63a8e7526e6d476c2e/feedshare-mp4_3300-captions-thumbnails/1507940147251-drlcss?e=1560546000&v=beta&t=wfh0JK7c_7fHqyISpSeiab7I8RG0VikSCldFQAByqw4&fbclid=IwAR0L22SvcRCCGedRs9mJzp9iCYJJxr-S8Rvw6bKpKfJ79w1SIj6c7JJchoU">drone shot</a> of work currently under way.</div>
Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-18893347687917699952019-05-02T15:09:00.000-07:002019-05-02T15:09:17.564-07:00Keynote Speaker<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am flattered and privileged to have been invited to be a Keynote Speaker at the <a href="https://masonrysociety.org/13namc/conference/">13th North American Masonry Conference, in Salt Lake City, Utah; June 16th-19th, 2019.</a> This event is created by The Masonry Society (to which I proudly belong). I have been asked to speak about Innovation in Masonry. I will also be giving a separate presentation on my company's technology as an Innovative Technology Session.<br />
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I was asked to provide an abstract (one for each talk), a short bio, and a photo. Here they are:<br />
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<b>Abstracts</b><br />
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<b>Innovation in Masonry Today: The Big Picture<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This talk will address the important role of innovation to
the masonry industry in today’s world. Different types of innovation will be
described, including incremental, gradual changes; and revolutionary or
disruptive innovation. Various sources
of innovation will be explored, including linear focused research;
interdisciplinarian research involving other fields; the psychology of
innovation; biomimicry as a source of innovation; and the unexpected, “opened
door” source of innovation. The challenges of innovation will be described:
including fundraising, intellectual property, green technology, the importance
of credentials, evangelizing new technology, converting others, establishing a
technical standard and obtaining a critical mass. The speaker will address all
of these considerations in the real-world context of his own experiences in the
development of using specialty manufactured concrete block to build masonry
roof arches, domes, spheres, flying buttresses, boats & ships, and much
more. This talk will summarize the role
of profitable innovation in the masonry industry relative to society, our
country and the wider needs of today’s world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spherical Block’s Innovative Masonry Systems<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This talk will address the topological interlocking
manufactured concrete block systems developed by Spherical Block, LLC. Two
different types of block design will be described, including triangular block
used to make domes and spheres; and voussoirs used to build arches, flying buttresses,
windows and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The molds used by
block makers to produce these block will be described, including methods for
handling these block, including cubing and palleting for shipping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The advantages of these innovative masonry
systems will be summarized; including taking advantage of the anisotropy of
these block; the extensive design flexibility which they provide; the safety
provided by these masonry systems for fire, extreme weather, seismic events,
and resistance to terrorist threats; the low cost and ease of production, and
both manual, semi-automated methods of assembly. The speaker will address all
of these considerations in the real-world context of his ongoing experiences in
the development of using these specialty manufactured concrete block to build
masonry roof arches, domes, spheres, flying buttresses, boats & ships, and
much more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This talk will summarize the
role of this profitable innovation in the masonry industry relative to the
block maker, masons and the end-user.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Bio</b></div>
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<strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">Peter Roberts</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"> is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of innovative masonry systems at Spherical Block, LLC. Peter is a masonry designer entrepreneur inspired to develop profitable, sustainable and scalable solutions for expanding the use of manufactured concrete block into topological designs, using block to provide roofs, such as arches and domes. He is at the vanguard of this entirely new use of concrete block, creating new applications, uses and markets for concrete block at scale. Peter has earned a reputation for utilizing existing production methods and materials to provide a profitable new realm for manufactured concrete masonry products. His work is suitable for affordable, high-strength building designs viable for withstanding severe weather events, wildfires, tsunamis, seismic applications, infrastructure, kilns and more. Peter has been granted six awards from the National Science Foundation, and two awards from the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority toward the development and characterization of this innovative masonry technology. Peter’s work has been identified as a Cutting-Edge Technology by the American Concrete Institute. Peter has authored 18 US patents. He holds a Bsc in Masonry Science from Alfred University’s New York State College of Ceramics. In his spare time, Peter is an avid outdoors enthusiast and devotes his time to pottery, sculpture, metal working, glass blowing and music. He is currently working to obtain a positive evaluation of his company’s technology from International Code Council – Evaluation Services. He can be contacted at </span><strong style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">roberts.peter01@gmail.com</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4e53S8JYmGldIMoZiFAIhvNnL2WZURKun300V4p4BMHzS3EP2Y_SOOfDlw5bLCLOoKSJBUybc7v81CJBINAEvaEWPpU2aYtU0su2U_069n-ypokUGdzNG0z2RAZTz9UZPg_b6lNeTF0oJ/s1600/me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4e53S8JYmGldIMoZiFAIhvNnL2WZURKun300V4p4BMHzS3EP2Y_SOOfDlw5bLCLOoKSJBUybc7v81CJBINAEvaEWPpU2aYtU0su2U_069n-ypokUGdzNG0z2RAZTz9UZPg_b6lNeTF0oJ/s1600/me.jpg" /></a></div>
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I am very excited to be giving this talk, and feel flattered and humbled at the invitation. I lived in Park City, UT for 11 years, so I look forward to seeing some old friends in my old stomping grounds during my few days there. </div>
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Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-47929864010022380532018-04-25T08:55:00.000-07:002018-04-25T21:18:14.432-07:00Concrete block to make ships, boats, barges and more<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px;">This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1660075 ("Topological interlocking manufactured concrete block"). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px;"><br /></span>
I have written previously about using masonry to <a href="http://masonrydesign.blogspot.com/2010/07/can-mason-build-submarine.html">build a submarine</a>, <a href="http://masonrydesign.blogspot.com/2010/07/desalination-idea-validated.html">here</a> and <a href="http://masonrydesign.blogspot.com/2010/04/making-fresh-water-from-salt-water.html">there</a>. A masonry submarine sounds a little far-fetched, but -as I tried to show- it's really not. A masonry submarine seems like a practical idea if you really think about it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uG3BAm7WImSxNedCRQu-cn48zlGM-_lma7W6sMc9wuNWv2g59Oz_RWSlGP97Wq4AxpGS9u6_267iLK9ZQxOuU5znqVSl235hyphenhyphenhu4TgrWAu9nqi3xEENb2sla_yltEYXqt_LKt7N1vrHH/s1600/concrete+sub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="546" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uG3BAm7WImSxNedCRQu-cn48zlGM-_lma7W6sMc9wuNWv2g59Oz_RWSlGP97Wq4AxpGS9u6_267iLK9ZQxOuU5znqVSl235hyphenhyphenhu4TgrWAu9nqi3xEENb2sla_yltEYXqt_LKt7N1vrHH/s320/concrete+sub.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Something less far-fetched than a masonry submarine is the idea of a masonry ship, or boat, or barge. I've written previously on a national competition that occurs in the US between various engineering schools to design, make and race concrete canoes. The ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) sponsors the annual <a href="http://www.asce.org/event/2018/concrete-canoe/">Concrete Canoe National Competition</a> as an engaging, fun and interesting exercise for engineering students to become involved in the design and use of concrete as a material to be used in boats, as canoes. This is an idea whose use is well established and known, although the general public may not be fully aware of this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfYgB-SFjFPT9uKbnoLHO21D1Oj-xve6hJu0pI_sUecO-1t7UnI85UZ8BKWGl3iF_2k6X3zKb2iobRzlJRIQtveTrgFN7zlicJoX4ZY6y9viK8tpSVrPoeuKDa6Gj5F6ltzWZXRgIHXrN/s1600/concrete+canoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfYgB-SFjFPT9uKbnoLHO21D1Oj-xve6hJu0pI_sUecO-1t7UnI85UZ8BKWGl3iF_2k6X3zKb2iobRzlJRIQtveTrgFN7zlicJoX4ZY6y9viK8tpSVrPoeuKDa6Gj5F6ltzWZXRgIHXrN/s1600/concrete+canoe.jpg" /></a></div>
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The idea for concrete boats has been around for over 150 years now. The oldest known ferrocement boat was a dinghy built by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph-Louis_Lambot">Joseph-Louis Lambot</a> in Southern France in 1848. In the 1890's concrete ships, boats and barges were designed and built by an Italian, <a href="http://www.concreteships.org/history/">Carlo Gabellini</a>. Concrete boats were practically common during <a href="https://www.warhistoryonline.com/military-vehicle-news/did-you-know-concrete-ships-were-built-during-wwi-wwii-only-a-handful-survive.html">both World Wars.</a> They were made partly in response to the war's demand for steel, because a concrete boat does not have a steel hull.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vkZMFq_sgiIFXqgTsUswfxhy8zcJiIwa4Wi6yxDxg8BbNnVeC9iAjNWL4qLOOINyw6bTr5BxSOEuXC_7PxiIoC99XfT42en5D1bIFALNzEQOxlMh7GhYgJE9tEvr7CTHgEczpintNOL3/s1600/Joseph-Louis-Lambot_Boat2-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vkZMFq_sgiIFXqgTsUswfxhy8zcJiIwa4Wi6yxDxg8BbNnVeC9iAjNWL4qLOOINyw6bTr5BxSOEuXC_7PxiIoC99XfT42en5D1bIFALNzEQOxlMh7GhYgJE9tEvr7CTHgEczpintNOL3/s1600/Joseph-Louis-Lambot_Boat2-300x225.jpg" /></a></div>
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Ferrocement is simply steel reinforced concrete. A metal grid is located in the center of the concrete thickness, providing tensile strength to the concrete matrix. While concrete has a high compressive strength, it has virtually no tensile strength, so metal reinforcement is required to make a tougher material (resistant to crack propagation).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2WqK1-9MMELPQaqeOP5kk5EXzyaDQXL_jZlJZ8Ck-3-mWRL3qWiCq3QkneVsNt4HrzX2mRBkOPTQCjXMf7JBzNCvz6qhxpFVSn_xGdFM6mcliuPUZsTxN4jnKjFSJFXXlM2X8ZMBKlIu/s1600/ferrocement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="483" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2WqK1-9MMELPQaqeOP5kk5EXzyaDQXL_jZlJZ8Ck-3-mWRL3qWiCq3QkneVsNt4HrzX2mRBkOPTQCjXMf7JBzNCvz6qhxpFVSn_xGdFM6mcliuPUZsTxN4jnKjFSJFXXlM2X8ZMBKlIu/s320/ferrocement.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The difficulty with a ferrocement boat is that eventually micro-cracks will form in the concrete matrix. Water will migrate and travel through these cracks until it reaches the metal grid located within the concrete. Of course the metal will then rust: it expands as it rusts, widening the crack, allowing more water in, creating more rust, further widening the cracks, etc., until the boat's hull does not maintain structural integrity. Nonetheless, concrete ships are known to have lasted over a century; such as the<i> <a href="http://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/the-concrete-fleet-of-wwii/">Violette</a></i><a href="http://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/the-concrete-fleet-of-wwii/"> built in 1917</a> and now serving as a boating clubhouse on the Medway River in England. There are also <a href="http://www.lowbridgeproductions.com/erie-canal-images-concrete-barges.html">concrete barges on the Erie Canal</a> in New York State, which were also built around 1917.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-FnF0bKPwyFcS_XRyiHtxDFuTMfbVBU9QHzQSfppVQfy05jEAoYRAFvXHlgiqebQQukk3a6Fk-S0P6Je8pzVkvHEnYjkyYu-UUMcYxl5kOu2Ardrg9fZonGoTRlOK47RDGHJhSuOpYu2/s1600/Concrete_Barge_-_Erie_Canal_-_Lock_13_-_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-FnF0bKPwyFcS_XRyiHtxDFuTMfbVBU9QHzQSfppVQfy05jEAoYRAFvXHlgiqebQQukk3a6Fk-S0P6Je8pzVkvHEnYjkyYu-UUMcYxl5kOu2Ardrg9fZonGoTRlOK47RDGHJhSuOpYu2/s320/Concrete_Barge_-_Erie_Canal_-_Lock_13_-_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had been thinking about concrete ships, boats, barges, submarines and similar applications for several years. In the course of doing work which is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF Award #1660075, "Topological interlocking manufactured concrete block") I was made aware of another start-up company, also funded by NSF, called "<a href="http://neuvokas./">Neuvokas</a>." Neuvokas makes a reinforcement bar ('rebar') by melting basalt, a high-density rock common around the planet, and drawing it into fibers (like fiberglass) and then epoxying those fibers together into a rod. The resulting material is very lightweight, has a higher tensile strength than steel, and (very importantly) it never rusts. I have been using gatorbar in my masonry system, to build arches and domes and even flying buttresses. It works very well, is cost competitive with steel rebar, and again: does not rust. Below is a picture of one of my arches, being made with gatorbar. Further below is a schematic of these same block making the hull of a ship (FIG. 16), and rebar configuration (FIG. 17). The corrugations created by the herringbone block pattern provide additional flexural rigidity to the hull, making it stronger.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacebNtkoLnFJjNxg2ZqIVPuWfKVnFPaUDH2wd7WMNaE995xqsl3vDbXVSfVbTIjX3gAG7HOhyphenhyphengZRqqfEpiKgA3ZP7TQBANHBXsx-GA7D0Nms5_DyThJ_tzNGAD7OvISj_Sm1Et8KpI-DV/s1600/IMG_2216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacebNtkoLnFJjNxg2ZqIVPuWfKVnFPaUDH2wd7WMNaE995xqsl3vDbXVSfVbTIjX3gAG7HOhyphenhyphengZRqqfEpiKgA3ZP7TQBANHBXsx-GA7D0Nms5_DyThJ_tzNGAD7OvISj_Sm1Et8KpI-DV/s320/IMG_2216.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8h-SHopfft3lpuQLUMz1_VAVXLdlYha93hAAzEotwpViSpmiom2Mv-Gb7q85QjlNUyYWiEPsqNSyU_nBxWbxzDP9cZw_Sj8-UM_Dl-sXx4IA5HBS54Dk3oZL9_Ryg9potBi1gj_YvmUK/s1600/boat4.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="798" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8h-SHopfft3lpuQLUMz1_VAVXLdlYha93hAAzEotwpViSpmiom2Mv-Gb7q85QjlNUyYWiEPsqNSyU_nBxWbxzDP9cZw_Sj8-UM_Dl-sXx4IA5HBS54Dk3oZL9_Ryg9potBi1gj_YvmUK/s320/boat4.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It occurred to me that the masonry system my company is developing would be suitable for making the hull of a concrete ship. Simply take a masonry arch, and turn it upside-down, and you have the hull of a ship. In order to provide additional strength to the hull, a series of bulkheads are located across the beam of the hull, in which rebar is located, to provide tensile strength across the hull. Compressive strength is also created by these bulkheads. The bulkheads are made by simply using regular, rectangular concrete block. In one embodiment (shown below) the design uses a traditional 3 centered arch, but inverted; this should make for a more stable boat than a simple cylinder or inverted barrel vault. A waterproof coating can be applied to both exterior and interior surfaces. The vessel is also divided into a series of watertight compartments. Flotation foam can also be included into the compartments. All of these features create redundant safety factors into a ship made of concrete block.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPtHBpg5NX29vf3H87r-lednA5Gw1k-3vMo5z3fynnEUi7tEJFOX1NG-VHHf7BH0qmP66miI086N1QO-tWz7GKHLMdOfmPtEo6szrnYE8DU0QBDbc_1NjK2u0REjOAhZCcPKOcfoTERlV/s1600/boat2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="775" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPtHBpg5NX29vf3H87r-lednA5Gw1k-3vMo5z3fynnEUi7tEJFOX1NG-VHHf7BH0qmP66miI086N1QO-tWz7GKHLMdOfmPtEo6szrnYE8DU0QBDbc_1NjK2u0REjOAhZCcPKOcfoTERlV/s320/boat2.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKO5sxsYz3wi18mc9_8Z0st5145x75adJfskBbzNwQvN8Eu9VdA3hZdUH9b2DrQKgVLDR_ZCsydAMlxDs5sA4WPijxFomlixp7vlWx9rh0HyY0T92vhK8_SHw8pA2TohFS2QlrXv5CZUi/s1600/boat5.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="804" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKO5sxsYz3wi18mc9_8Z0st5145x75adJfskBbzNwQvN8Eu9VdA3hZdUH9b2DrQKgVLDR_ZCsydAMlxDs5sA4WPijxFomlixp7vlWx9rh0HyY0T92vhK8_SHw8pA2TohFS2QlrXv5CZUi/s320/boat5.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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By using a material such as gatorbar, reinforcement can be provided which will never rust. This creates an ideal ship hull. A ship's hull can be made very inexpensively, it can be made virtually any size, it will never rust, it will never grow barnacles, it never needs to be painted, it would never need drydock repairs. After doing some research, I realized that no one else had really done this sort of work, or idea, or boat: a vessel whose hull is made from manufactured concrete block. By using the arch block design (<a href="http://masonrydesign.blogspot.com/2015/05/introducing-new-block-design-for-arches.html">discussed here on this blog</a>) this design also takes advantage of the anisotropic nature of manufactured concrete block. That is, manufactured block has a high-strength axis, and this high-strength axis is always oriented radially outward, imparting its maximum strength qualities into the ship. The bulkheads simply use regular rectangular concrete block, with vertical and horizontal rebar (gatorbar).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVhflcfSiLEX_kMnR2vqMIDM5mbhlGajYXDmGrze1C9-TzTpSMvTaEyD77o9Ey3QifXRd9f_8TTm3MWdPDGBgtXIwIRmLGjDfpjQmC2-jPsgRsnHk8MR_9ZmAbMf1xarARo58fWx0_Bet/s1600/boat6.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="497" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVhflcfSiLEX_kMnR2vqMIDM5mbhlGajYXDmGrze1C9-TzTpSMvTaEyD77o9Ey3QifXRd9f_8TTm3MWdPDGBgtXIwIRmLGjDfpjQmC2-jPsgRsnHk8MR_9ZmAbMf1xarARo58fWx0_Bet/s320/boat6.PNG" width="262" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFO5g4TX2nUPf7ZGtPWjZx559qtHIbrd2BUqBHgWZ4vUXRv3xlwlLQ6SY0buS9oCB-3kre9n5QOj3jjQ8JJoDt_FxjA8rE_YHKDkN4Y1MYDL6lGAQu-XMHNB3qCQ_7hjxjlalKfSbKnK_/s1600/boat1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="802" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFO5g4TX2nUPf7ZGtPWjZx559qtHIbrd2BUqBHgWZ4vUXRv3xlwlLQ6SY0buS9oCB-3kre9n5QOj3jjQ8JJoDt_FxjA8rE_YHKDkN4Y1MYDL6lGAQu-XMHNB3qCQ_7hjxjlalKfSbKnK_/s320/boat1.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A new US patent application was recently filed by my company, simply entitled "Floating base." This patent application includes students from the Senior Project class I taught at Alfred University's Inamori School of Engineering, namely: Benjamin Cleaver, Matthew Freitag, Ryan Miller, Charles ('Addison') Heulitt; under the direction of their professor Dr. Ehsan Ghotbi, and my employee Stephen Bonan (good job guys!). It appears as though this field of invention is wide open, that none have really tried what my company is attempting here. It will take us some time to prove this idea by actually building and testing a large concrete ship, but this appears very practical, affordable, and looks as though it would create a ship superior to conventional steel-hulled ships or wooden ships in terms of cost, maintenance, life-cycle, and so on. Shown below is an artist's conception of our concrete block hulled ship, used as a platform for residential housing. The future looks buoyant for ships made from concrete block.<br />
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Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com103tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-20207781546529104142017-12-05T16:57:00.000-08:002017-12-09T18:07:26.766-08:00How it all began<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have been working on using manufactured concrete block to make roofs, including domes, arches, spheres, flying buttresses and more, for around 27 years now. Today I'm taking a look back at how this all began. I am prompted to do this by some old photographs which a friend (Paul Sofinski) recently shared on facebook from many years ago, when I was studying ceramic engineering and ceramic art at <a href="https://www.alfred.edu/">Alfred University</a>'s New York State College of Ceramics.<br />
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<a href="http://masonrydesign.blogspot.com/2011/04/sestina.html">As a child</a> I was fortunate to live in Europe, where my father was on sabbatical as a professor of European history. My siblings and I were dragged into many of the great cathedrals of Europe, where I would stare in awe at these wonders of masonry. A seed had been planted in my young mind.<br />
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I began doing pottery in high school. I went to <a href="http://www.guilderlandschools.org/highschool/index.cfm">Guilderland Central High School</a> in Guilderland, New York. I was fortunate enough to have Mr. Paul Krauss as a ceramic art teacher. Under his tutelage I began working on the potter's wheel and spent a few years after high school making and selling my work. I attended the <a href="http://www.albany.edu/">University at Albany</a> in the early 1980's, where I studied geology and in my spare time made and sold pottery at the university's campus center.<br />
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Some years later I decided to attend Alfred University. I initially went there to study ceramic engineering, but once I saw their art facilities, I decided to pursue art also. I was looking for a more challenging aspect of art to investigate, so my work became large in scale.<br />
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Here are some pictures of me and this early student work. I would use a forklift to move these pots around, to get them in and out of the kiln, etc.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPETAufh2z8D2MipTgkdSPbWtIvheFIEsMIaLRmSDmeqzKi63fzMWYYhHuUyTSWEIJVJ4DdLi_Lh0jjfP-4McVXZ2Y7k41Lvg8MNAPakhEmvT8yY1CpDT96aX8S8HjWb71-R5b2CL7wgV/s1600/pete+throws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="438" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPETAufh2z8D2MipTgkdSPbWtIvheFIEsMIaLRmSDmeqzKi63fzMWYYhHuUyTSWEIJVJ4DdLi_Lh0jjfP-4McVXZ2Y7k41Lvg8MNAPakhEmvT8yY1CpDT96aX8S8HjWb71-R5b2CL7wgV/s320/pete+throws.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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This became interesting from an engineering perspective. These pots at first were anthropomorphic, being human in scale and proportion; having a foot, a shoulder, a neck, and so on. This quickly transformed into their becoming architectural, and soon I was contemplating the notion of a ceramic house. I combined my ceramic art and ceramic engineering studies at Alfred, and obtained a custom degree in Masonry Science.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdo-J2kKNjSUijbTavIpvVxyggCCzvS06gCQwiNE7zBiIY5CRQHS81DyVK6WzQI5osLX5nVQfm1czvATEpkJhJP-w1zEQ9WTsJl-ea1WEd1pgbjhSUnWOPzXc0s3kHdR4BXX40yvLMXOh/s1600/pete%2527s+pots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="290" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdo-J2kKNjSUijbTavIpvVxyggCCzvS06gCQwiNE7zBiIY5CRQHS81DyVK6WzQI5osLX5nVQfm1czvATEpkJhJP-w1zEQ9WTsJl-ea1WEd1pgbjhSUnWOPzXc0s3kHdR4BXX40yvLMXOh/s320/pete%2527s+pots.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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I researched ceramic houses, and investigated the work of <a href="http://www.calearth.org/our-founder/">Nader Khalili</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paolo_Soleri">Paolo Soleri</a>, <a href="https://www.bfi.org/about-fuller">Bucky Fuller</a>, and others. Nobody was doing what I was thinking about. My approach seemed obvious, self-evident and simple. I wanted to use common concrete block technology (usually called a "<a href="http://masonrydesign.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-is-cinder-block-it-conjures-image.html">cinder block</a>") to make roofs, in the form of arches and domes. I sought to combine the high efficiency and very low cost of concrete block automated production with the high compressive strength and design flexibility which symmetry and geometry make possible. I was shocked to learn that this had never been really attempted. It seemed like an interesting and unique opportunity, so I pursued it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMy232iVvN2qF07TbJRCv79sixsLziSEZ2f353FbTbgC2_8xvyQQbdtmlWXF37rzrGlGC9yZFQ7jK3Vc2Mf85UQd9gUWNZa8hu3HffELyzcVXPbiApI_Fuu29BnhSg_bNpnUno5ScEysgM/s1600/senior+show+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1600" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMy232iVvN2qF07TbJRCv79sixsLziSEZ2f353FbTbgC2_8xvyQQbdtmlWXF37rzrGlGC9yZFQ7jK3Vc2Mf85UQd9gUWNZa8hu3HffELyzcVXPbiApI_Fuu29BnhSg_bNpnUno5ScEysgM/s320/senior+show+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It takes a naive young person to try something new! I was that sort (still am, to a degree). I encountered the extremely conservative construction industry, and the even more conservative practice of masonry. Over the years that followed, I have worked and produced designs, buildings, molds, blocks, patents, and done my best to try and demonstrate my ideas within my limited economic means (it is expensive to try and change a global industry by one's self). My work has gained some recognition and has garnered interest nationally and globally. Currently I am completing my third funded award from the National Science Foundation, wherein I am seeking to gain a positive evaluation report from the International Code Council - Evaluation Services. This will allow this technology to be sold as a product globally. It all began with an art student making big pots. Now cut your hair and get a real job!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZRlb81HKZqvlVpHEyO_o6hojmHunsN4hM9Gm6w2zJ0lbKPFNy5bRP-uBU5wvAjRNPYCSnIz8pBo3erjnODnUDy6NYnAaoWR2iHvM-RikURM-lyW4-oofYNNBvNsB4a44usBjHW3QYfke/s1600/senior+show+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="1600" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZRlb81HKZqvlVpHEyO_o6hojmHunsN4hM9Gm6w2zJ0lbKPFNy5bRP-uBU5wvAjRNPYCSnIz8pBo3erjnODnUDy6NYnAaoWR2iHvM-RikURM-lyW4-oofYNNBvNsB4a44usBjHW3QYfke/s320/senior+show+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510429481940113675.post-28221209694799781212017-11-08T09:57:00.000-08:002018-08-16T14:25:41.428-07:00Making a small concrete block masonry building<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px;">This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1660075 ("Topological interlocking manufactured concrete block"). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.</span><br />
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Today I'm taking a look at the construction of a small building assembled from manufactured concrete block. This particular building was made to serve as a kiln room. A kiln is a high temperature oven or furnace used to heat (fire) ceramic material. Kilns may also be used to melt metal, or glass, or for any heat-treatment of materials, such as drying green wood.<br />
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This building has a footprint of around 14 feet by 12 feet, or around 170 square feet. There is a trend today toward "tiny houses" where people are attempting to live in such small spaces. Personally, I don't mind living in a small house (under 1,000 feet is OK) but I would not care to live in such a small space as this: it is appropriate for a shed, or a safe room, or even a kiln room.<br />
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A "safe room" is an appropriate use for a building this size. A safe room like this would be appropriate to survive a tornado, or hurricane or wildfire. The need for an affordable, high-strength, fire-proof safe room has been brought into sharp focus over the past few months, with the arrival of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria; and also with the devastating wildfires in California and across the American West. A building such as the one shown here would allow people to survive any of these disasters, providing safe refuge in the face of any of these natural disasters. Many residents of Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, and California would have benefited from one of these structures during the hurricanes and wildfires which impacted these areas. A structure such as this provides an affordable solution to these natural disasters, and gives people a safe place to survive these devastating type of events.<br />
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Following are some photographs showing the construction of this building. The vertical walls were made with standard 8 inch x 8 inch x 16 inch concrete blocks, or "cinder blocks" as they are commonly known. The side walls of this building include blocks which are oriented with their long dimension oriented at a right angle to the wall, creating a series of vertical buttresses, or pilasters for additional strength and reinforcement. These blocks have hollow core holes which were subsequently poured with grout and also contained a series of vertical rebar for additional reinforcement.<br />
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Here is the building site before construction began.</div>
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Construction has begun, a few hours into it.</div>
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Vertical walls almost completed, this took 2 days to build.</div>
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There were 450 regular 8 inch x 8 inch x 16 inch block used to make all of the vertical walls. These block cost $1.20 each. There were 30 8 ft. pieces of rebar used in the hollow vertical cores of the walls, which were poured with grout. I used "<a href="https://www.neuvokascorp.com/gatorbar-neuvokas">gatorbar</a>" rebar, made by <a href="https://www.neuvokascorp.com/">Neuvokas Company</a>. This rebar is made from basalt, which has a very high tensile strength and will<i> <b>never rust</b>. </i>20 foot long pieces of this rebar cost around $5.50. The grout cost around $30 for the entire structure. Mortar for the entire structure cost around $45.00. The material cost of these vertical walls (including block, mortar, rebar and grout) was around $700.</div>
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This shows wooden forms used to make arches between the vertical buttresses or pilasters.</div>
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Here are wooden forms used to make a concrete skewback, from which the masonry arch roof is built, or 'sprung.' </div>
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This shows the arch assembly as it begins. Note the use of 'gatorbar' rebar used to help create the arch. This block is described in more detail <a href="http://masonrydesign.blogspot.com/2015/05/introducing-new-block-design-for-arches.html">here</a>.</div>
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Here is the masonry arch being constructed.</div>
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This shows threaded anchor bolts (3/8") which were used to attach a wooden covering to the roof.</div>
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This is the 3/8" anchor bolt, which is inserted into the mortar beds between blocks of the arch.</div>
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Here is the building with a completed masonry arch. This could have been made waterproof with any number of techniques, including waterproof paint, rubber roofing, etc. I try to use the most common construction practices, methods and materials: so I used a wooden surface, covered with tarpaper and then finally covered with shingles. Any of these methods will work.</div>
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Here is the wooden roof surface, covered with tarpaper. Note the stainless steel chimney for the kiln in the back.</div>
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Here is the shingled building, more or less complete. I will still install a door, and I may paint the building with a waterproof masonry paint, such as (for example) <a href="http://www.drylok.com/products/drylok-extreme-masonry-waterproofer.php">Drylok</a>(<span style="font-size: xx-small;">TM).</span></div>
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This building represents a simple, high-performance, inexpensive approach to providing a very safe structure capable of withstanding wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other extreme weather events. The cost of materials for the vertical walls was around $700. The cost of the masonry arched roof was $644 in block, around $70 in mortar, and $77 in rebar for a total material cost of $791. The total material cost of this building was $1,491. This material cost does not include labor, and labor costs vary widely. This was built by two masons working for 5 days, 8 hours each day. By comparison, a <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Handy-Home-Products-Installed-Majestic-8-ft-x-12-ft-Wood-Storage-Shed-with-Autumn-Brown-Shingles-60351-8/205922151?cm_mmc=Shopping%7cTHD%7cG%7c0%7cG-BASE-PLA-D28I-InsideGardenOther%7c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7LmdtcOv1wIVyY2zCh3AJQM0EAYYCCABEgIwlPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=COSv8sHDr9cCFcNGDAodTdIPhA">smaller shed</a> made of flimsy wood sheathing which is much smaller (8 ft. x 12 ft. vs. 12 ft. x 14 ft.) costs $2,199. This wooden shed will burn, rot, suffer from insects, and is not nearly as strong: it would not survive a direct encounter with a hurricane or tornado. There is really no comparison! The wood shed costs $22.90 per square foot, the concrete building shown here costs $8.77 per square foot.</div>
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Upon completion of work funded by the National Science Foundation (Phase II, Small Business Innovation Research, SBIR) within the next 2 years, this technology should be accepted into the International Building Code and is expected to be available for sale internationally. This small building is just another example of what this innovative masonry technology makes possible. Better, stronger, safer buildings at a lower cost. </div>
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Peter Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08823379238317407262noreply@blogger.com14