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Concrete in housing

Geodesic dome of
polystyrene and concrete
Saves money, space, and energy

BY M. K. HURD

ut 6-inch-thick triangles of crete dome are arranged in hexa- shape helps it resist strong winds,

C extruded polystyrene
foam, assemble a geodesic
dome, and encase it with
reinforced concrete. This method of
homebuilding requires no heavy
gons and pentagons to approximate
a spherical surface. Take a close look
at a soccer ball and you’ll see the
same pattern.
Dome designs are available in 32-
and snow tends to form its own arch
over the dome structure. The dome
is designed for a safe snow load of 50
pounds per square foot and for a
wind velocity of 120 mph.
equipment, uses locally fabricated and 40-foot base diameters. Each The shell of concrete and poly-
materials, and delivers a strong, en- dome is about three-eighths of a styrene has an R value of 27. This in-
e rg y-efficient dwelling suitable for complete sphere. The aerodynamic sulating capability can readily be in-
many climate zones. Shell costs are
moderate for the space enclosed.

Geodesic domes:
What and why?
A geodesic dome may be de-
scribed as a part of a sphere con-
structed of multiple straight bars
arranged to form triangles. The bars
are called geodesics and the trian-
gles are facets. Structurally, the geo-
desic dome is a space truss and is
the strongest known straight-line
form enclosing space. It is efficient
as well as strong; there is no
straight-line geometric form that re-
quires less surface skin to enclose a
given amount of space than a geo-
desic dome.
In the concrete and polystyrene
dome described here, folds in the
concrete shell replace the straight
bars. The folds, howe ve r, act just as
the bars would to transmit loads to
the foundation.

The concrete geodesic dome


The triangular facets of this con-
Five rectangular base panels are first
erected on the slab foundation. Then
preassembled pentagons are mounted on
top of them and braced and shored to the
slab.

sign. Dowels embedded in the edge


beam project 1 foot into the dome
shell to tie it to the foundation. The
center of the slab must be clearly
marked as a reference point for
polystyrene panel erection.
The dome designer recommends
using a polyethylene film mem-
brane under the slab as a vapor bar-
rier.

Cutting and assembling


the triangular panels
All the components for the con-
crete geodesic dome can be fabri-
cated at the site. Two sizes of trian-
gular panels and several rectangles
must be square cut from 6-inch-
thick extruded polystyrene foam.
Since it may be difficult to get the
necessary accuracy with a hand saw,
a power saw is suggested. Cut to
whatever depth you can with your
power saw and cut the rest by hand.
You can even break the panel along
the power saw cut, since only one
edge, the inside one, needs to be
Welded wire fabric in two layers is placed over the polystyrene panels to completely accurate.
reinforce the geodesic dome. A hoop of reinforcing bars circles the dome (at The triangular panels are pre-
level of worker’s foot) to reinforce a ring beam. assembled into pentagons and half
hexagons before being erected in
the dome. Metal clamp plates, two
for each joint, hold the panels to-
gether at the outside surface. A bolt
creased with selected interior fin- stable, with adequate bearing ca- through the clamp plate and the
ishing materials to R-35 or more. pacity. Where the soil is subject to polystyrene foam secures a 2x4 rib
f re ezing, the footing must be placed on the inner surface (see detail
Foundation requirements below the frost line, with perimeter drawing). Joints between the poly-
A 32-foot-diameter dome weighs insulation to reduce heat loss styrene panels are filled with a two-
about 25 tons. That weight usually through the foundation. component polyurethane which ex-
can be carried by an edge beam 12 The 4-inch slab on grade with its pands after it is poured into place.
inches wide and 110 feet in perime- edge beam can be laid out as a 10- Five rectangular base panels are
ter, resulting in soil pressure less sided polygon. The slab is thickened glued in place on the foundation to
than 500 pounds per square foot. to 12 inches at the location of any start the final dome assembly. Typi-
Local soil conditions should always load-bearing interior partitions cally, door and window openings
be investigated to be sure the soil is called for by the architectural de- are formed between these panels.
Then the preassembled pentagons
are set on top of the base panels and ESTIMATED MATERIALS FOR GEODESIC DOME BASE SLAB AND SHELL
joined with clamping plates and in-
DOME DIAMETER
terior wood ribs. Next the half hexa-
32 feet 40 feet
gons are clamped into place, and as-
sembly proceeds with more panels
SLAB ON GRADE WITH EDGE BEAM
until the dome is complete. A con-
tinuing check measurement from 3000-psi concrete, cubic yards 16 23
panels to the center point of the Wire mesh, 6x6–W10xW10, square feet 1,150 1,700
base slab maintains the geometri- Rebar for edge beam, pounds 750 900
cal accuracy of the dome. 6-mil vapor barrier, square feet 920 1,400
Any joints not filled during the
preassembly must be filled with ure- DOME INCLUDING ARCHES (FIVE OPENINGS)
thane as the erection goes on. Inter- Extruding polystyrene (density 1 pound per cubic foot), board feet 9,025 14,200
nal struts and shores are added to Galvanized wire mesh, 6x6–10Wx10W, square feet 3,500 5,500
support the dome and workers on it Hoop rebar, #4, Grade 40, pounds 250 430
when they place reinforcing steel 3000-psi concrete, cubic yards 11 16
and concrete.
Lumber, 2x4 framing grade, board feet 425 550
Why are the polystyrene panels all
Urethane foam, two-component, gallons 16 20
square cut and erected this way
even though they join at an angle? Latex rubber cement, gallons 1.5 2
The polystyrene is not dimensional- Galvanized 14-guage steel for clamp plates, square feet 30 30
ly stable enough to be glued accu- Galvanized 1/4 -inch threaded rod, feet 158 158
rately. It expands slightly as panels 1/4 -inch galvanized nuts, each 420 420
are cut from the manufactured bil- 1/4 -inch galvanized washers, each 210 210
lets. Also there are nine different an-
gles, which would make panels diffi-
cult to shape. The polyurethane The builder has a choice of three chosen, 7-day moist curing of the
foam is like mortar between bricks; ways to apply the concrete: concrete is recommended.
it allows for any imperfect cuts and
surfaces. ■ Troweling by hand Interior and exterior finishes
When the polystyrene is fully as- Some hairline cracks in the dome
sembled and braced, it should be ■ Shotcreting, either wet- or dry- can be expected because of settle-
temporarily anchored with tie wires mix ment, creep, and shrinkage Howev-
to prevent uplift by wind. er, the designer considers the typical
■ Laminating with a plaster gun dome waterproof when simply
Setting steel and applying painted on the outside, if the quality
concrete For the owner-builder who trow- of the concrete and its application
Principal reinforcement for the els the mix on by hand in small are satisfactory. If there are any
dome consists of two overlapping quantities, a stiff mix using one part reservations about waterproofness,
layers of galvanized welded wire cement, two parts sand, and three the owner may select from a variety
fabric, 6x6—W10xW10. Ungalva- parts pea gravel (by volume) is sug- of waterproofing membrane mate-
nized mesh may be used if a water- gested. You place the concrete in 8- rials.
proof membrane is planned for the inch layers, working up from the Another exterior finish treatment
dome’s outer surface. The two layers base of the dome. By the time you uses 2x2 cedar or redwood ribs to
are placed at approximately one- have made a full circle around the accent the ridges of the dome. Wood
third and two-thirds depth, respec- dome the first layer has begun to set shakes can be applied over the con-
tively, of the 13⁄4-inch concrete shell enough to support the next layer. As crete for a more traditional finish.
thickness. Wood spacer blocks are you go higher and the slope of the Or textured stucco can be used.
used as needed to maintain steel in polystyrene is less steep, depth of On the inside it is possible to plas-
the proper position. Wood blocks the layers can be increased. ter directly onto the polystyrene
are also glued to the panels as Built with shotcrete, the dome re- without use of lath or wire mesh.
gauges for the application of con- quires a 3000-psi mix. Or, using a Perlite plaster about 5⁄8 inch thick
crete to proper thickness. plaster gun, a stucco mix of sand provides a permanent finish that in-
Added reinforcing steel is placed and cement can be applied in sever- creases the basic shell’s R value of
around openings in the dome, and a al layers, each 3⁄8 to l⁄2 inch thick. 27. The plaster can be applied be-
ring of five #3 bars encircles it at the tween the 2x4 ribs that were needed
Whatever method of application is
level of the top of the door openings.
for erection of the dome, or the ribs dome is 1,300 square feet, with 500
can be removed to permit continu- square feet more on the upper floor.
ous application of plaster. Gypsum The 32-foot diameter dome has 850
board can be installed over wood square feet on the main level plus
furring strips if preferred. 300 square feet in the second floor
Interior partitions are of conven- loft. Both are designed with two
tional wood framing. Typically a loft bathrooms.
or second floor is placed in the cen- Standard plans and step-by-step
ter of the dome where 8 to 10 feet of construction procedures are avail-
headroom is available. able from the designer for 32- and
40-foot domes. Larger diameter,
Costs and material quantities high-profile geodesic domes up to
The designer has estimated mate- 50 feet in diameter are available as
rials costs at about $10,500 for a 32- custom designs.
foot-diameter dome, and $16,000
for a 40-foot dome. This includes a
slab on grade, the dome shell, doors Credit
and windows, plus rough interior Architect: Peter M. Vanderklaauw,
Miami
framing of partitions and loft. You
can use the quantities given in the
table to estimate your own costs for
the slab and dome shell.
Main floor area of the 40-foot

PUBLICATION #C881018
Copyright © 1988, The Aberdeen Group
All rights reserved

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