|
Posted by Scott Cox on May 8, 2007, 9:22 am
Have a look at geodesic dome houses like www.aidomes.com . They cite
examples of Florida built geodesic domes surviving hurricanes while
neighboring stick-framed houses vanished.
> Greensburg, Kansas just got wiped out. There is need in the tornado-belt
> for tornado-proof houses. I think it can be done and done cost
> affordably.
>
> The grain elevator survived. It is a cylinderical concrete structure.
> That is a clue.
>
> The specs for this new type dwelling is Cat.5 and grapefruit size hail
> protection level 100% with only "paint damage" allowable. In fair
> weather,
> it should provide attractive, comfortable and economical living for a
> family of six. Larger and smaller models would follow.
>
> A cylinder topped with a dome like a nuclear reactor containment might
> work. Another approach is a three sided pyramidal structure, made of
> reinforced concrete. A sphere on a low pedestal is another design.
>
> Such a building design could be tested in a wind tunnel after being
> mathematically evaluated by structural engineers. It would be build on
> site
> in huge inverted molds, using factory-preformed steel reinforcement and
> poured. Then, the cured structure would be hoisted by crane and bolted to
> a well-anchored slab foundation. Windows would be equipped with steel
> storm shutters and the garage would be built into the North side with 3
> block walls forming the auto storage space. A steel roll-up door would
> protect the garage opening.
>
> The object is to build for not exceeding a $5 per sq. ft. premium.
> Lowered
> insurance costs and a government stipend of about $1,000 a year to owners
> willing to open up their dwelling to neighors for shelter in tornado
> attacks would substidize the additional cost of acquisition.
>
> The government could be convinced to underwrite the R & D of this project
> to a 50% level. We need a small team of about 20 to do this: architect,
> engineer, lobbyist, patent attorney, contractors, real estate developers
> and so forth. The project should begin at Greensburg.
>
| 
Yahoo! 
Google 
Windows Live 
del.icio.us 
digg 
Netscape 
XML Sitemap