3 ms·
As a building architect, the system looks fascinating. However, the biggest problem I see is reinforcing - concrete performs very poorly in tension without ste
by gibsonf1 18y ago
As a building architect, the system looks fascinating. However, the biggest problem I see is reinforcing - concrete performs very poorly in tension without steel (usually rebar) reinforcing, and in general is not allowed by most building codes. One solution would be to have the robot build a double wall that effectively acts as formwork for the real structural wall in the resultant cavity. The structural concrete would have to be poured after reinforcing is placed in the cavity, and structural continuity would need to be achieved by the rebar connecting to rebar in the foundation as well. The other approach that would work better for the robot would be a radical improvement in concrete technology that would boost the tensile strength without the need for rebar - that would be ideal.
- olefoo 18y agoThe robot could embed steel or kevlar tape pretensioned during the pour.
- gibsonf1 18y agoThe main problem is the vertical reinforcing bars - unless, of course, the robot was redesigned to build the walls in vertical passes instead of horizontal. But then you have to cope with the horizontal reinforcing - I think it is a difficult problem which they haven't solved yet. The only clean solution I can think of is a new kind of concrete that has tensile strength - maybe there is a nanotechnology solution to this.
- patrickg-zill 18y agoI believe that you can avoid rebar when using CMU's (cinderblocks), provided you use a surface bonded adhesive. Possibly a similar coating could be applied to these walls, providing 100% waterproofing, mold resistance, and strength. Alternatively just make the wall wider at the base if doing a single story building - if the width is 10% of the height of the wall, it will be OK.