New Construction Tech. Promises To Save Lives!

[Bigsky770]

Earthquake-proof foam homes could save lives

29 January 2005
WHEN people die in earthquakes, they are often killed by their own houses collapsing on top of them. That could change if a new construction material similar to styrofoam is used instead of more traditional bricks and mortar.

In tests on 19 January, a two-storey house built from panels of expanded polystyrene sandwiched between cement boards survived a simulated earthquake of magnitude 10, stronger than the world has ever experienced. The quakes that struck Turkey and Iran in 2003 both measured less than magnitude 7, but thousands died when large numbers of brick buildings collapsed.

The foam technology could help prevent such devastating loss of life, says Rachel Jagoda from the Federation of American Scientists in Washington DC, which organised the trial. The material stands up to violent shaking because the foam is lightweight, while the cement coating makes it rigid - features that help a house to stand when others would fall.

Houses made from the composite panels are not only earthquake-proof, but also relatively cheap, simple to construct and energy-efficient. "We hope that agencies and governments in countries that could use this technology will see it and take off with it on their own," Jagoda told New Scientist.

Story From this LINK:
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/mech-tech/mg18524843.800

- - -Submitted by Joe (Bigsky770) :vbroll:

[stringybeef]

Sounds familiar from a movie except it wasnt a house it was a car. I think the movie was called Demolition Man with Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes. When he crashed the new age car a styrofoam like sheet completely covered the car so he wouldnt get hurt.

[lotrfan55345]

I wonder how would stand up to tornadoes and such though.

[Bigsky770]

. . .Being that it is that I've handled (hell, I used to work with the stuff!), all-types, forms/sizes and shapes of the stuff, even the junk in its' liquid state for injection. It's amazingly light, has great insulative capabilities, and is great for all that you can do with it. There are even newer types that are more 'environmentally friendly' that can break-down over time with exposure to open-air, and not create harmful residual chemicals as they do so to the air, ground (or) water. . .
. . .On the down-side, the stuff is SO LIGHT, a good, stiff breeze can make a panel of this stuff take-flight; it just isn't 'weighty' at all. I would have to think that they are (probably) using this stuff -w- composite materials, either encased in heavier materials (or) as a 'sandwich', where it could provide more stationary support and stability (as well) could be anchored.
. . .But having worked with this stuff, I posted this because I really see good things for this method of construction; The stuff is so-great to work with for what it can do, I can see it being used in nearly every stage of construction in providing low-cost, strong, affordable housing for those in need MUCH more quickly. With 'modular' construction techniques, whole-living quarters could (conceivably) be injection-molded with all the wiring and plumbing ALREADY IN PLACE! (yah just gotta be able to 'envision' it!) I'm pretty excited about it! :2thumbs:

Allright. . .(I'll calm down!) ::)):

Joe (Bigsky770) :vbroll:

[Ghost]

A number of companies make it. It comes in panels and also in blocks similar to masonry cinder blocks.

Once filled with concrete and reinforcing steel, it is pretty much indestructible. I don't know about the mag 10 earthquake but it will survive most everything, including an F5 tornadoe.

It is essentially a solid concrete structure with excellent insulation qualities. Not to expensive to build and some incredible benefits to it.

[Houston411]

This could also change architectural styles...

Not the first time a life-saving material would aide in a new architectural revolution.

Now we can all move to the West Coast! :D

[Ghost]

This could also change architectural styles...

Not the first time a life-saving material would aide in a new architectural revolution.

Now we can all move to the West Coast! :D


Yeah, it is very versatile and easy to work with. Pretty much umlimited use or building style.

Not to mention the R-factors your get for insulating quality. Beats any traditional method of construction with fiberglass or other forms of insulation. Makes this style of building very attractive in cold areas and the desert, either extreme.

Bullet proof
Sound proof
air tight
non-organic=no mold or mildew
tons of beny's

[Houston411]

Do you think they would use this in Mid-rise construction? I'm sure it would only work for structures 1-3 stories tall.

[Mezurashi]

Do you think they would use this in Mid-rise construction? I'm sure it would only work for structures 1-3 stories tall.

actually, this stuff would be excellent for steel frame construction. Today's 'wall panels' in most buildings are preforms made from pretty much solid 'crete. the new tech could easily be used in its place and would probably Add to the overall strength of the building once fixed into position.

a lot of modern ideas in construction deal with 'hanging wall' applications in which the walls can be made from anything as long as the frame is strong enough. I can also see this new stuff being critical in big projects like Tokyo's Sky City and Hong Kong's Big Spike (both blue-sky mega buldings slated for the next fifty years).

[Houston411]

actually, this stuff would be excellent for steel frame construction. Today's 'wall panels' in most buildings are preforms made from pretty much solid 'crete. the new tech could easily be used in its place and would probably Add to the overall strength of the building once fixed into position.

a lot of modern ideas in construction deal with 'hanging wall' applications in which the walls can be made from anything as long as the frame is strong enough. I can also see this new stuff being critical in big projects like Tokyo's Sky City and Hong Kong's Big Spike (both blue-sky mega buldings slated for the next fifty years).
Those proposal buildings were never built, they were simply "Fantasies".

I don't think you'll be able to get so high in Tokyo, Los Angeles, or Seattle for that matter, maybe in the near future. The tallest in a seismic area is the "Library" (US Bank) Tower. At 1,016ft. Already able to withstand a 8. on the rickter scale.

And Hong Kong isn't really a seismic region.

But thats fascinating that new hieghts could possibly be reached in near times.

[Ghost]

I doubt it, but I do not know.

High rise buildings were limited in height when masonry was used because of the incredible weight and the bearing requirements. In a masonry structure, the bottom walls have to be so thick to carry the weight of the upper floors. The higher the structure, the thicker the lower walls.

The advent of steel eliminated those problems and now we have the virtually unlimited height capabilities of today.

Once we figure out how to combat wind stress, balance, etc presented by height, I think there will be no limit to how high we can build. Thats kinda scary IMO.

So in answer to your question of height.... I think only a few stories will be acceptable/possible. Only steel offers height capabilites at this point in time. Concrete and masonry are simply too heavy.

The concrete used in the floors of high rises is special lightweight concrete and doesn't have the bearing capabilities of structural concrete required for vertical bearing walls.

The styrophoam building products you/I are referring to cannot support weight on their own, they are designed to be filled with concrete. (Read: insulated concrete forms, insulated concrete building products, etc.) the foam product itself has no structural quality/capability whatsoever.

[Houston411]

The advent of steel eliminated those problems and now we have the virtually unlimited height capabilities of today.

Once we figure out how to combat wind stress, balance, etc presented by height, I think there will be no limit to how high we can build. Thats kinda scary IMO.
Only very few places on earth could support a structure so rediculously tall, as say the Burj Dubai.

Many cities, belive it or not, are bound by nature. They would only be able to go a certain height, without the land destroying it. For some examples, Tokyo and Los Angeles (Well, any city in the "Ring of Fire" for that matter). Right now, the only thing holding the building heights back is of corse, they would have to be-able to with stand a 8.5 on the rickter scale. Most cities have height-limits already, due to density, proximity of airport, or various other reasons... San Diego has a 500ft limit. Seattle is limited to its current tallest (Bank of America) not only because of the region, but because the airport close by. I would bet almost all European cities have a height limit.

But of corse, as technology progresses, we can reach "New heights" in these "Trouble Zones". Like The Seismic regions... Or even Houston. Houston's soil is millions of years of built up silt from the many bayous that run threw the city. During the 80s, (peek economic year 1982 + 1984) Buildings were getting taller as the city progressed. Like up to 700, 800, 900, and 1,000ft. But the soil is too soft. Homes are mostly forbided to have a basement, due to flooding. So when building all the skyscrapers, they had to build them several feet taller so they could sink, and eventually sink down, and remain at the original height.

[Defiant Noquisi]

I wonder how would stand up to tornadoes and such though. Thats a good question. Most structures destroyed by tornadoes are built to withstand gravity (downward pressure) but not pressure from winds coming in at the sides such as tornadoes produce.

[Mezurashi]

when I mentioned the advent of 'super structures' I was thinking more in terms of how the foam tech would be beneficial to the current plans brewing in the think tanks. the 'crete/foam 'laminate' walls (as discussed) possess a much higher degree of 'flex' strength with a huge reduction in weight, thus when applied over a huge structure the 'bonuses' inherhent add greatly to the structure's ability to withstand quakes. But the underlying framework would still be steel (or it's high tech equivilant). I wasn't suggesting these laminate walls be used as load bearing aspects.

The Hong Kong Spike (aka the Millenium Tower) is in advanced planning phases right now and the Sky City in Tokyo is enough of a going concern that, according to the lastest TV based documentaries, they have already begun location scouting to find a site where they can build the 'super foundry' that will be needed to cast the main beams (somewhere on the China coastline near Korea apparantly). Of course it will be decades before any serious work begins, but I wouldn't be surprised if one or the other 'broke ground' within a decade.

Though it seems rather dumb to continue building upwards along the Ring of Fire, that sort of 'sensible' thinking hasn't been all too popular amongst the Japanese (I know, having been born there). The outlook I gained from my parents about the geographical location of Japan was that the Land of the Rising Sun, was also the Land of Tears. Some historical sociologists have suggested that the medieval Japanese mix of savagery and philosophical contemplation came as a result of pressures both from overcrowding and the fact that the landscape regularly wiped out large numbers of us. We learned how to get along in crowds without going snake all the time, and we needed to, cause those of us that had managed to survive all the earthquakes, tsunami, volcano's, Godzilla and what not were some pretty tough motherfuckers. So todays Japanese are descended from those psychotics - they were nuked (not once but twice) in recent history yet they still tried to take over the world again a few decades later. They're the children of maniacal warriors, so it only goes to figure they try to make themselves look and act as harmless as possible, if only to assure everyone else they're no longer a threat. With this sort of society wide agression repression, any lunatic that appeals to the Japanese danger/thrill need is likely to get much support. Remember, Japanese people regularly eat sushi that may or may not kill them, just for the rush. Living in a high-rise in Tokyo is kind of like that, but all the time.

[Ghost]

It will definately be interesting to see what the future holds. Engineering today apparently knows no bounds.

Once they figure out how to build something to withstand natures forces, it gets built.

The WTC towers were a record at the time. Now the tower in Maylasia (sp?) I think, is the tallest. And there are plans in the works for a new tower in New York that is taller than any other tower in the world.

Like I said, once they figure out how to build around natures current limitations, I think height will continue to grow. There will always be a limit. A building 5000 feet tall or even 2500 feet tall is inconcievable to us right now but I bet there is someone working on it as we speak.

Unless the world ends, I don't think there will be a limit. But this is getting off topic.



I wonder how would stand up to tornadoes and such though.

Thats a good question. Most structures destroyed by tornadoes are built to withstand gravity (downward pressure) but not pressure from winds coming in at the sides such as tornadoes produce.

The foam product, concrete filled will withstand an F5 tornado. It's been tested and survived a real life tornadoe. It was F4 or F5.

[Houston411]

when I mentioned the advent of 'super structures' I was thinking more in terms of how the foam tech would be beneficial to the current plans brewing in the think tanks. the 'crete/foam 'laminate' walls (as discussed) possess a much higher degree of 'flex' strength with a huge reduction in weight, thus when applied over a huge structure the 'bonuses' inherhent add greatly to the structure's ability to withstand quakes. But the underlying framework would still be steel (or it's high tech equivilant). I wasn't suggesting these laminate walls be used as load bearing aspects.

The Hong Kong Spike (aka the Millenium Tower) is in advanced planning phases right now and the Sky City in Tokyo is enough of a going concern that, according to the lastest TV based documentaries, they have already begun location scouting to find a site where they can build the 'super foundry' that will be needed to cast the main beams (somewhere on the China coastline near Korea apparantly). Of course it will be decades before any serious work begins, but I wouldn't be surprised if one or the other 'broke ground' within a decade.

Though it seems rather dumb to continue building upwards along the Ring of Fire, that sort of 'sensible' thinking hasn't been all too popular amongst the Japanese (I know, having been born there). The outlook I gained from my parents about the geographical location of Japan was that the Land of the Rising Sun, was also the Land of Tears. Some historical sociologists have suggested that the medieval Japanese mix of savagery and philosophical contemplation came as a result of pressures both from overcrowding and the fact that the landscape regularly wiped out large numbers of us. We learned how to get along in crowds without going snake all the time, and we needed to, cause those of us that had managed to survive all the earthquakes, tsunami, volcano's, Godzilla and what not were some pretty tough motherfuckers. So todays Japanese are descended from those psychotics - they were nuked (not once but twice) in recent history yet they still tried to take over the world again a few decades later. They're the children of maniacal warriors, so it only goes to figure they try to make themselves look and act as harmless as possible, if only to assure everyone else they're no longer a threat. With this sort of society wide agression repression, any lunatic that appeals to the Japanese danger/thrill need is likely to get much support. Remember, Japanese people regularly eat sushi that may or may not kill them, just for the rush. Living in a high-rise in Tokyo is kind of like that, but all the time.
The Millenium Tower was cancelled ALONG time ago! All of these "Super projects" were cancelled, just fantasies at best.

How do I know? Well, my father is VP of MI/SWACO (Smith International) drilling fluids and such, and work for major oil and digging comapnies.

He was in Japan when they were diggin the foundation for Sir Norman Foster's Millenium Tower in Tokyo Bay, but stoped immediatly. It was scraped. Just like the Mile High one in Chicago in the 50s. Cancelled... The only "super-tall" skyscraper being built right now, is 1776 in NYC, Union Phase 7 in Hong Kong, and the Burj Dubai in Dubai (UAE). The Burj Dubai is suppose to be pass 2,000 feet.

Just because you see a picture of a building, doesn't mean it will be built. These super structures are drawn all the time, most of them simply never leave the architect's immagination. There are probibly "World's Tallest Building" proposals every month. But its only a one in a million chance it would actually get built.

[Mezurashi]

ok, I will take your word for that...but have you heard anything about the Bering Strait Bridge? the reason I ask is that this was a 'super project' that was supposed to have been cancelled, but there's is currently a whole shitload of resources flowing northwards along Canada's west coast towards Alaska, and most of it is thought to headed for the Queen Charlotte Islands (where there might be pertroleum products to be found) but none of it is showing up there, or anywhere else nearby.

*summary* maniacal engineers want to connect eastern Siberia with western Alaska using a huge (and I mean huge) bridge which would do vehicles and trains as well as massive pipelines which would pump Siberian oil to American refineries (*I could have this wrong, couldn't find much verifiable stuff about this).

and as for the Tokyo Sky City, my cousin (an engineer) is currently working with an 'international' crew of surveyors and other engineers as well as architects and designers and guess what kind of location they're scouting for? a really really big foundry with all the bells and whistles. supposedly for some Chinese 'super project' but there are no Chinese involved in the scouting. hmm...

[lotrfan55345]

I heard that if it rained in Dubai... it would snow ontop of th Burge... Damn.

[Houston411]

ok, I will take your word for that...but have you heard anything about the Bering Strait Bridge? the reason I ask is that this was a 'super project' that was supposed to have been cancelled, but there's is currently a whole shitload of resources flowing northwards along Canada's west coast towards Alaska, and most of it is thought to headed for the Queen Charlotte Islands (where there might be pertroleum products to be found) but none of it is showing up there, or anywhere else nearby.

*summary* maniacal engineers want to connect eastern Siberia with western Alaska using a huge (and I mean huge) bridge which would do vehicles and trains as well as massive pipelines which would pump Siberian oil to American refineries (*I could have this wrong, couldn't find much verifiable stuff about this).

and as for the Tokyo Sky City, my cousin (an engineer) is currently working with an 'international' crew of surveyors and other engineers as well as architects and designers and guess what kind of location they're scouting for? a really really big foundry with all the bells and whistles. supposedly for some Chinese 'super project' but there are no Chinese involved in the scouting. hmm...
Yes i've heard of many of these projects.

Most of them will never get built, or will be stoped.

Many Super-Tall Structures have been drawn up over the years, most of them in Tokyo. Such as X-Seed 4000. Suppose to be (4,000m) 13,123ft, with 800 floors, the tallest building ever envisioned. Or TRY-2004. Or the 6,565 ft Aeropolis 2001. Or how about the 3,281ft. "The Spiral", One of many hyperproject proposals that Tokyo is considering as a solution to everlasting urban congestion. This building would recycle some 90% of its waste internally thus being a very clean and ecologically sustainable building in the long run. Its scientifically impossible to date, and was proposed several years ago. SKY CITY 1000, MOTHER, Hyper Building, Millennium Tower, Dynamic Intelligent Building, Holonic Tower, and Shimizu Super High Rise.

Currently, the only structure being proposed that would be Japan's Tallest, is East Office Tower. If realized, this will be the tallest building in Japan, (1,109 ft).

And the tallest skyscraper currently underconstruction in Tokyo (out of all 332 high-rises underconstruction (12 floors +)) , is Mid Town Tower. It will be Tokyo's Tallest at 813 ft, but not Japan's, as Yokohama Landmark Tower is still #1 (972 ft).

Many heavly populated and business cities have had "Serious" and "Non-Serious" proposals of these super-tall structures. It dates back to the 20s in New York City, to the 40s in Moscow, to the 80s in Houston. There in every major city, with big lists of these major buildings, like Sao Paulo, Tokyo, Mexico City, NYC, Chicago, LA, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok, Sydney (etc...)

Just because the project exsisted, doesn't mean its going to get built.

[Mezurashi]

Yes i've heard of many of these projects.

Most of them will never get built, or will be stoped.

Many heavly populated and business cities have had "Serious" and "Non-Serious" proposals of these super-tall structures. It dates back to the 20s in New York City, to the 40s in Moscow, to the 80s in Houston. There in every major city, with big lists of these major buildings, like Sao Paulo, Tokyo, Mexico City, NYC, Chicago, LA, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok, Sydney (etc...)

Just because the project exsisted, doesn't mean its going to get built.

yup. I must 'revise' to say that I should have referred to Tokyo Super Projects instead of a specific one, which was incorrect for what I wanted to get across.

something is going on there, the scouting reference I mentioned got me thinking (and I am eagerly awaiting a phone call from one of my relatives) and so I fixated on Big Buildings, perhaps I'm compensating for my perceived 'lack' of something, lmao. I often allow enthusiasm to override common sense, it makes life more interesting, if less accurate.

it could be for another big dam somewhere, or an equally large undertaking. all I know for sure is that the site requirements are large scale on a 'future view' sort of scale. Hey, they're building art islands in the waters of Dubai as well as really tall buildings, it seems that some aspects of science fiction are starting to percolate.

and to get back to thread topic related items - has anyone seen/heard anything about the development of Aerogel as a construction material? I heard this might happen but all I can find in my limited surfing is promotional materials. what if they are working on this stuff and it can be incorporated into the foam-crete sandwiches?

[Houston411]

Hey, they're building art islands in the waters of Dubai as well as really tall buildings, it seems that some aspects of science fiction are starting to percolate.

There just building those "cookie-cutter" homes on an island that looks like a palm tree. Dubai's "tall" are (on average) 700ft. (+/- 50 stories) They have a thousand footer, and are working on the Burj Dubai, "planned to be the world's tallest." The construction there is sickening, theres no urban planning, its just skyscrapers along one avenue.

I would bet money, that Dubai will bust before the Burj hits 20+ floors.

Its just oil tycoons showing off there money. :P