Above from Strategic Capabilities: ISO Container "BattleBoxesTM": Containerize the entire U.S. Army
Enormous thread; allow time for loading.
Posted on 12/09/2008 8:21:31 AM PST by Army Air Corps
A collapsible container designed by two professors from the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, India, could revolutionize the marine cargo sector.
In less than four minutes, the container is collapsed hydraulically to one-quarter its original size. Kept together with a self-locking mechanism, four vertically stacked containers take up exactly the same space as a regular TEU.
More than 52 years ago, Malcom McLean, a North Carolina trucking entrepreneur, originally hatched the idea of using containers to carry cargo. He loaded 58 containers onto his ship, Ideal X, in Newark, N.J., and once the vessel reached Houston the uncrated containers were moved directly onto trucks — and reusable rectangular boxes soon became the industry standard.
-Snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at pacificshipper.com ...
Thanks for the info! I am still some years away from building my semi-buried home, but I do have some sketches for several designs and arrangements using containers. I have settled on a two-story design where the second floor is above ground while the bulk of the house is below ground.
Thanks!
My main question is what to use to make a roof. The top of the containers would form the ceiling and I am trying to figure out the best way to distribute that weight of about six inches of soil over the structure. This is important to me because this would a fairly sizable home with about 80% of it below ground.
A durable single-membrane roof can be done with DuPont Hypalon through one of its roofing buyers, in this case Conklin whose Hy-Crown we used on the 4,000-square foot Santa Fe Childrens Museum. Chlorsulfonated polyethylene, 40-mil, ten nylon threads in each direction per square inch.
The Childrens Museum roof has the breadloaf shape formed with sheathed trusses topped with rigid insulation.
Were you after the heat sink with the dirt roof. You could beat the weight with spray foam, the guys with the AB trucks, then coat with whatever they're using.
Good thread thanks. I have a very nice 20’ shipping container that I plan on using as a storm shelter someday. Perhaps we can all keep in touch and give each other more suggestions as our plans continue?
You’re most welcome. I am glad that I could offer a thread that sparked some good, informative discussion.
Count me in, too. I’ve been interested in building a mostly or completely underground dwelling for some years now, but the price of containers and hauling them to the site has been prohibitive.
I’ve got 5 wooded acres to use to bury them on and (possibly) connect to my existing 12X60 mobile. Was thinking of something like an iceberg, with only the mobile above ground but with one or two containers underground and connected to it. Been planning a lot in the head but not done much of getting it down on paper yet.
Tornado proof.
Must be awful to come up with a revolutionary product during a world wide recession.
Well, an idea like this is supposed to help shave costs, so it might be a winner.
That is the main idea for the area in which I live. The other consideration is reducing utility costs by using earth as an insulator.
My plans have been in two possible directions.
1 - build a house where 80% is underground and the remaining 20% is above ground (basically a two story structure with the second story above ground level).
2 - a buried structure built around a central sunken, lanscaped courtyard. Almost all the windows face the courtyard.
#1 is more like my idea. I want all the underground portion hidden, with the mobile on top. Access hidden inside the mobile or with 2ndary access available but hidden elsewhere. I’ve just figured that the shipping container idea is about the least cost method of doing it since they are already pre-built to withstand the stresses of ocean and truck transport. Modular so to speak- dig the hole, drop the container in and you’ve got most of the “construction” work done.
Running power and water wouldn’t be much problem as both are already underground now to the mobile. Heating/cooling bills drastically minimized as the earth doesn’t vary in temp much.
Lots of ideas, not much of anything planned yet. Last quote I got, quite a few years ago, was about $2800 for a 40 footer. Figured I could build it for that much. Now they may be down in a reasonable range if there’s going to be a surplus of them. Getting one trucked out into the boondocks will I’m at would probably cost more than the container.
Like I said, I’m collecting ideas right now.
Above from Strategic Capabilities: ISO Container "BattleBoxesTM": Containerize the entire U.S. Army
Enormous thread; allow time for loading.
Thanks!
“The American jobs would be programming and maintaining the factory robots.”
To hell with robots, get your lazy butt to work, calouses,muscke, and sweat would do you good.
Of course you would havew to be taught to do something first!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.