4 ms·
Two issues: 1) unequal dispersion of the balls could create super weak spots that are mostly empty space. I'm not sure how engineers could use a material where
by marcusverus 7y ago
Two issues:
1) unequal dispersion of the balls could create super weak spots that are mostly empty space. I'm not sure how engineers could use a material where the structural integrity isn't consistent.
2) If water ever penetrated the swiss-cheesyness of the concrete in freezing weather, you'd be in big trouble.
- disillusioned 7y agoYeah, this is already a nightmare with rebar in reinforced concrete. Just imagine actual ping pong ball sized voids filling with moisture. Swiss cheese, indeed.
- galaxyLogic 7y agoBut it wouldn't be holes, it would be water-tight ping-pong balls.
- BurningFrog 7y agoOK, what if you carefully place the balls in a regular pattern?
- beerandt 7y agoImagine placing ping pong balls in a regular pattern in the bottom of an empty swimming pool, then filling it up with water.
- BurningFrog 7y agoYou'd have to secure them in place. Perhaps with a metal grid.
- beerandt 7y agoSure it's doable, it just makes the task that much more difficult. Plus you need to ensure there are no unintentional voids from the balls blocking the pour. Code requires that they can't be within 1-2 inches of any steel or the surface of the concrete. Also, most designs assume a uniform cross section, and changing that greatly complicates the design method. And remember that the laborers doing this don't always understand (or care) about these sort of restrictions. It's usually cheaper and less risky to just use a lightweight mix, with injected air, if needed.