Interesting alternative to rebar

[Balog]

Saw a video of a small monolithic dome style building being constructed using basalt fiber to reinforce the concrete. Looks pretty interesting. I wouldn't want to construct a house that way, but it'd make for an interesting shed/outbuilding/storage area.

[AJ Dual]

I'm not exactly sure why, but I always love seeing/reading about alternative construction techniques.

Maybe I just fantasize I could build a home that's incredibly durable, efficient, and cheap, giving me spaces and square footage I'd never be able to afford otherwise. Combining material cost savings, and sweat-equity savings.

I'm not really a fan of the dome styles either, round walls being an absolute PITA to furnish, but OTOH, if I could get 5000sqft for the price of 2000 sqft of stick-built or whatnot, then HVAC costs only pennies a month... it gets hard to argue against it.

[230RN]

^ Air-filled building?  Don't have to be spherical, can be cylindrical or "rectanguloid."

I've often wanted to play around with that idea, wondering how the cost of constant inflation would amortize out over the savings in buulding costs, how to insulate from the weather, strengh of construction in weather (like high winds), entryways, sound insulation between rooms, securty from unauthorized entry...

...internal walls could act as "stays" to hold the external walls in shape, and reduce the pressure required  -maybe only 25-40" of water pressure.

Et cetera.

Just playin'.

Might actually be practical for a temporary storage building, though.

Terry, 230RN

[TMM]

the building is cool, but i'm just sitting here amazed that someone was able to make a flexible fiber out of a ROCK! that just baffles my mind.

tmm

[RevDisk]

Saw a video of a small monolithic dome style building being constructed using basalt fiber to reinforce the concrete. Looks pretty interesting. I wouldn't want to construct a house that way, but it'd make for an interesting shed/outbuilding/storage area.

Very interesting.  I'd like to see specifics of rebar vs basalt fiber.  Or a Celebrity Deathmatch type event using flammability testing, kinetic testing, earthquake testing, etc. 

[sanglant]

the building is cool, but i'm just sitting here amazed that someone was able to make a flexible fiber out of a ROCK! that just baffles my mind.

tmm

check this one out, it'll blow your mind.



not to degenerate anyone suffering from exposure to it, pity more/all companies using it didn't buy there people masks.

[Brad Johnson]

Fiberglass reinforced concrete is nothing new.  They've been using if for slabs around here for years.

Brad

[AJ Dual]

Fiberglass reinforced concrete is nothing new.  They've been using if for slabs around here for years.

Brad

Indeed, but that's random short-strand fiberglass just added to the mix. My own patio was made from that too. This is long-fiber directional wrapping with basalt fiber which is in between fiberglass and carbon fiber in strength.

And the shell was only a few inches in thickness, supporting several tons of weight.

[Brad Johnson]

Sounds kinda like a high tech cast-in-place version of good old concrete backer board.

Brad