or like so:
or like so: 
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Posted on 02/10/2019 10:54:32 AM PST by Jonty30
No need for software if you can learn from nature, at least that's what my ancestors did.
Take the ancient Temple of Borobudur for example. Borobudur - Wikipedia
If this colossal structure were to be build today the amount of computation and simulation required to complete it would be very great.
But because there were no computers in the 9th century what my ancestors did to complete this beautiful edifice was quite interesting in it self.
The learn from observation and harnessing everything that nature has given them in order to complete this temple.
Borobudur is located on the South Central part of Java. It's location pretty much dictates how or with what the temple is going to build. Since volcanoes dotted the landscape the builder choose Andesite as the the main building blocks. Andesite - Wikipedia Andesite is a very light volcanic rock.
On average between 20% to 40% of the rock's volume is actually air due to the pores. These pores came from the way the rock were born inside the belly of a volcano. Because there were a lot of it lying around, using Andesite would be a no brainier instead of importing a more robust type of rock from outside the region. On average the weight of individual stones in Borobudur rarely exceeds 9 kg. Meaning it would be very efficient and cheap to build the temple.
Another trick that my ancestors deployed in order to finish the job is the involvement of a mortar free construction method.
Today, despite our technological advances, mortar free construction is still rare. From small simple homes to tall skyscrapers, nearly all used mortars. But Borobudur and many other ancient structures in Java are actually free from mortar.
How? By using spacial imagination.
They used interlocking mechanisms to get the stones in place and support each other. By joining the stones this way there's no need for a complex computation or mathematical equations to get the jobs done. The simply used their imagination.
Why mortar free? Because of the nature of Java. Java is tropical. It's hot and humid all year round. When it rains it pours down heavily. Imagine what would happened to a mortar if exposed to these tropical elements for a prolonged period of time. The mortar would be rotting away leaving the integrity of Borobudur jeopardized.
Not to mention Java is prone to periodical volcanic eruptions and large earthquakes.
Sulfur contained in the volcanic ash would literally dissolve mortars, while during earthquakes, mortars would break and caused the structure to break with it. That's why even after 1000 years Borobudur and other ancient temples in Java still stood firm. If an earthquake nock down the structure, people would simple put the pieces back together like Lego bricks. The absence of mortars allow this to happen. Ancient structures does not meant it's a primitive structures build by primitive people. On the contrary many of these ancient building, at least in my country were build with sustainability, efficiency and safety in mind.
It's incredible to think that people in the past don't need a complex or fancy software in order to build a lasting structure.
We have winter in tornado alley. My brother owned a warehouse made like this. Coldest place on the face of the earth, and St Louis isn’t that far north.
There’s multi-bubble looking house off the Interstate between San Jose and San Francisco that looks like a case of sublimated ovary envy.
I was in a company building near the center and away from the windows as a tornado passed overhead in Atlanta. Sounded like a steam locomotive high-balling through your living room.
or like so:
or like so:
?
Soon, 3D printing of walls and houses will surpass human skills.
First we had stone buildings. Heavy thick walls, limit in heights. Next came cast iron super structure. Better than stone yet still limiting. With the invention of the Otis elevator and steel, buildings have become virtually limitless in size and function.
Then there are the building codes, life safety codes and the pure logistics of construction.
Anyhow to answer your question, its about money, cost.
Wood construction for houses is the cheapest and easiest. The technology is proven and when properly designed and built, have good resistance to earthquakes, tornado and hurricane.
There certainly are different materials that can achieve the same results, but cost and time prohibit there use.
Why don’t we build homes using interlocking cement blocks?
Notice the truth of the builders is the truth just about everywhere (with a few exceptions) - creative use of locally available materials.
My dream is to retire someday in one of those. It would be the only way I’d move to a state with regular tornado activity.
ICF blocks will work in any climate. Insulated Concrete Blocks that have rebar anchoring wall to the footing with lightweight concrete filler. They are very energy efficient and will withstand tornadoes.
Theresa better system.
It involves styraform forms with channels that you put in rebar, and then pour in concrete.
It’s more effective because it has an insulating value much higher than concrete alone (the concrete blocks have air gaps to help with weight and insulate, but still have a big problem with heat(cold) transfer.
Since you are pouring the concrete into the top of the wall, the walls go up faster with less manpower and cost as well.
My neighbor built a home - it’s stronger than cinderblock with rebar! Insulating value is incredible. His electric bills are <50-60$ a month here in texas no matter if it’s 30 degrees or 105 outside.
They use cinderblocks instead of concrete blocks because of the weight. Foundation structure gets harder with solid or hollow concrete blocks. Cinder blocks require sealing also, as do hollow concrete blocks.
Now stabilized adobe is a good building material in a dry climate. 3’-4’ thick walls work well for that.
Is that over Macho Grandé way?
That’s a common construction technique for large warehouses and industrial buildings, up to 40-50’ tall walls, in say 12–15’ wide sections.
If you don't use computers, you have to build in a larger margin of error. Compare the longevity of a B-52 or U-2 or C-130 to a computer designed plane. Compare computer designed highway bridges of today which quickly fail to the depression era bridges still in use.
The insulation creates the forming for the concrete pour.
In the 70s there was a modular home movement...an outgrowth of the trailer home industry. It was blocked and stopped by the labor unions and building code inspectors.
It was based on 4x8 modules and multiples of 4x8. We see it now, but without the inter-locking feature.
“Is that over Macho Grandé way?”
Nah, it’s down near Nacho Grande’.
A lot of new homes built in Alaska use this for the sub grade walls and above grade walls. If assembled and sealed properly you bring in a concrete pump and pump in a specific mix design thats different from all purpose concrete, usually more cement per yard and with a smaller rock.
We loosely call it wall grout mix.
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