VAULTS A&B

Catenary Vault Design
Catenary Vault Design
Catenary Vault Design

Catenary Vault Design

Catenary Vault Design


The first idea
is catenary reinforcing -- the red wires are catenary lines and render the building self-supporting with no (or very little) additional reinforcing needed. The black wires are additional beams required by code and common sense -- these can be minimal and help allow for non-catenary reinforcing and more flexible design.

The second idea -- pre-fabricated, arched triangle, roof panels. 12 -18 feet wide. On the ground you build arched triangles in a dish shape. Finish the inside of the dish, flip the dish over, set with a crane and this becomes the ceiling of the dwelling. No overhead plastering. A row of tiles inside, finishes interior ceiling.

Building triangular dishes -- start with insulation then structural layer and then polish the inside of the dish. THE HARD PART -- Turn the dish over and stack it in vertical pile until the crane comes to set 8 dishes. Crane --reality check-- for these dishes on the first floor I'd say 4 hours at $150 per hour is $600-- or $75 for each of 8 panels. Set the dishes and stick them together in the valleys -- formwork very simple using plaster lath -- mix this pour on site, (pour out of a 5 gallon bucket) and vibrate from above. 1/2 yard should go a long way.

How to best support the dishes when moving them so they don't crack??? This idea works for domes too.

 

arch drawing
trussed Arch Drawing
Arch Photo
Arch Photo
Arch Photo

 

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