Helical Ringforcement can be made with continuously looping, 7 strand cable or in segments of one loop each. Tiers of these loops have been colored to show arrangement around dome. Naturally other building shapes are feasible for this scheme of reinforcement. Segments can be made from short sections of bamboo, metal, etc... In this CAD model my count of loops were as follows: bottom = 67, 2nd up = 63, 3rd up = 60, and 4th up =57. Each loop is about 40 inches or 240 cm. The Dome is 24 ft or just over 17 m. In reality this will vary. A ferro concrete method is contemplated here. Ferro cement users can add much smaller loop sizes of wire, to fill in gaps. Email for more configuations.The brown frame which defines the dome shape can be free form rods or poles. Recomended but not drawn are internal temporary bracing. One the other hand, mud, brick and ice domes have been made without temporary bracing as follows. The stone, ice or mud is laid up a short hieght at a time. In the case of cement, the hieght should be just under slumping. Progress is entirely dependent on temperature. In warm conditions, each layer can harden quickly, but actual conditions must be tested continuosly.

Comments are invited. Consultancy or constructive cooperation is offered. These research reports are in the public domain and are furnished "as is". The author makes no warranty, express or implied, for any purpose. The author assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this research. Bo Atkinson, enersearch Tel : 207 342 5796 . . . (MaineUSA)

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