With an operator, me and my buddy built a 25 foot wall on a 6 degree angle on the vertical and were able to curve it roughly an inch per block. It was an "S" shape and was for a storage facility on the Sunshine coast. These blocks are AWESOME!!! Of course every second layer of block needed geo-grid for strength. And an engineer and proper permits. What fun!! Will be there my lifetime! Good times!
There are many differences between our system and the monolithic domes you describe. They are one piece and are structurally much different. Having natural joints in the structure means the forces that travel through it are much different. Also, since our system is modular, it does not require rebar reinforcement. They are also pre-cast, meaning they can be installed very quickly and de-constructed and re-used if needed.
Very fascinating and interesting to watch. It leaves your mind in total amazement when you think about the Aqueducts arches that were built by the Romans over 2000 years ago.
Part of the reason the Roman designs last so long is because of the arch shape itself. Since everything is in compression, the concrete is used to its maximum capabilities. As you might know, concrete is much weaker in tension than it is in compression. If you're interested in alternate methods of constructing these arches, subscribe because we'll be showcasing it later this week.
Shunkawakan Okawingha i know,sorry,i didn´t get the "same concept" part...and payed more attention to the "i doubt the blocks were as big"...piramids was just an exemple of big blocks,for big arches there is the colosseum ;P=
I think they must have had some kind of levitation back then or some kind of way to lift and move that we no longer have today so we have to invent machinery to do it now that they didn't need back then.
This is a very strong construction. No metal to rust and no concrete joints to crack with freeze-thaw cycles. It will probably outlast most buildings in the area.
Well...we learn something new each day:) I was thinking that might be but, thanx for clarifying! Its interesting and a good place to watch the fingers:)
If one were to make a poured in place arch, it would actually be weaker because the entire structure would be one piece instead of discretized into segments. The fact that the arch isn't a solid piece means that the load calculations on it are different. A piece-wise arch is better suited to handle the loads and far cheaper than a rebar reinforced one. Please contact us via our website to discuss pricing.
The structure was designed by an engineer to withstand earthquakes just fine. After the arches were finished being put together, soil was dumped on top which restricts lateral movement. For an arch to fail, 3 hinge points have to open up. Since it's back-filled, there's no chance of that happening.
@awwwsnaps Indeed it's a classic roman arch. The internal steel cables that run through it are merely for safety during construction and to make it easier.
Beautiful and smart blocking. :) I like how you leave more space before the final lock so that the side plugs fit into sockets. What must be the average weight of each block?
In addition, the arches you see here were buried after installation and are constantly driven over by mixer trucks. The domes you describe would shatter if a fleet of trucks were parked on top of it.
Since the entire structure is engineered to be in compression, there is no need for mortar between the joints. The joints CAN be sealed if needed though.
Make a metal "arch shaped" beam that you can attach 8 blocks to, then raise the whole beam with pre-formed arch and drop on top of footings, disconnect the beam... reckon that would saves loads of time!
What is the maximum arch width you can span so far? ie a 30 foot span. Can you precast utility runs in the blocks? For electric lines and such. Would this system be adaptable to utilize foamcrete or equivalent? A super light concrete building material. Very impressive system.
It's a little more complex because it has to be engineered to last for 75 years or more and handle industrial traffic driving over it. I'd like to see lego do that ;)
They already build bridges with pre-formed concrete blocks, manufactured off-site and delivered ready to be installed, the crane required is bigger but you save in time and labour and follow on trades.
@MillyVanillification Only for this method of construction. You can also make a mold of the arch underneath to support the blocks. That's what the Romans did.
If I could use the original Roman technology I would use that. It would last thousands of years and it wouldn't require such expensive tools. A great example of technological involution.
If you visit our website and navigate to the "retaining walls" tab, you can scroll down and see our various finishes. The Vertical Rib finish is very good for dissipating sound and that finish could be applied to the inside of an arch.
It all depends on the capabilities of the crew placing them and the accessibility of the site. United Lock Block Ltd. is currently working on making arch creation easier.
I want my bug-out bunker built of this stuff. It looks like it would be incredibly strong, fairly quick and easy to install, and last a good long time. Certainly outlast me and a generation or two, anyway.
how to you support the abutment on the left side of the final arch. is it mechanically joined to a foundation below grade or if the left abutment settles wont the arch fail?
That's still a massive amount of concrete for the usable floor space created... And what happens in a Seismic event... One lost block and it de-engineers itself...
To construct an arch with formwork would take much longer and require specialized labourers to build. Creating the custom formwork for a pour in place job would also be very expensive and not re-usable as wood is typically used. In addition, the engineering of a structure that is poured in one piece is completely different and far inferior than individual blocks. Building the arch from pre-cast pieces is also quite a bit faster. In short: Less time, cheaper labour, cheaper materials.
Lock Block Ltd, This video seem to be a good one, but can u show us the finale result when the job /project was finished , just to show this arches what they are used for ? ( I trying to understand what was the purpose of all this job at the end of the day ). Thank u
So the structure is supported by itself, using the compression of its own weight? Wouldn't it 'wobble' if there's an earthquake or construction nearby. They can't use this method for larger span or arc right?
When the structure is backfilled (covered with dirt, in this case), it's not going to wobble anywhere. If you wanted to build a free standing arch, you'd want to secure its outside radius with a steel cable to keep it sturdy while in motion. Or, you could thread it through the inside of the arch through a pre-cast conduit.
Can you make the world's large maze and charge people to get lost in it ? or have a marathon race ? Or a rollercoaster in the dark ? or a giant bat cave ? or a subway ?
