[Ferro List] Catenary Dome

[Christopher Glasspool]

Mud-daubers,
While this discussion has been going on for years in one direction or another. As far as I know there is few reasons to build to the strongest shaped strength with fc. The steel reinforced fc skin could be used in any shape one wished. This skin is going to be nearly as strong as plate steel when built to certain specs.This is one of the freedoms of the material. While the catenary domes and vaults are very strong, it is probably the least of the concerns of building with fc, and yet it comes up over and over. I would be more concerned with shape function; speed, and efficiency of construction - overall cost of production. 
Flat or gently curved pieces of fc are easiest and cheapest to produce by probably hundreds of percent. While systems like the ones that use blow up forms have been accomplished. There is a need for more systems of fc construction, and a evolution of ideas on how to insulate, waterproof, conduct utilities around, join pieces, and provide inexpensive forms for the laminated process, and take advantage of fc's innate nature of not needing a foundation. 
Unless your building a bomb shelter, or a submarine why cling to the catenary shapes? Building underground is a neat concept but it isn't necessary to build a certain shape to do so. I do think that building underground has the potential of snagging the do it yourself-er into a never ending planning and engineering contingency plan that never gets the project off the ground. - chris

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