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.
ICF is gaining popularity along the MS, AL, & FL gulf coast due to the hurricanes. If I ever build another house thats the way Ill go.
The reason is, anthropogenic climate change! /rimshot
Leggo my Lego, or I guess, in this case, Duplo.
Thanks steve8714.
In the 1960s, a Canadian architect believed he'd solved the supposed housing crisis in the world by his invention of prestressed concrete prefab housing units -- and they stacked, so your solid unit was accessed by a series of stairs and ad hoc passageways between other units.
By an odd coincidence, I'm currently watching/listening to this:
Lost Worlds (Ep-14) The Seven Wonders
Habitat 67
Roman Concrete keyword (yes, we have one):
My late wife was really interested in Monolithic Domes. They seem to be really cool, and would be pretty damned smart to use in places succeptable to fire like northern California.
I suspect force of habit has a lot to do with it. Builders use materials that they are familiar with. People buy homes that look familiar to them.
Expanded Polystyrene concrete, EPS, is a modern material similar what is described in the article. Cement plus beads of polystyrene.
In the 1920s my mother’s parents had an adobe house built in West Texas. Walls about a foot thick. The house maintained a comfortable temperature all year long. Thermal mass works wonders.
Cool. Cement legos.
Fifty years ago concrete block with anchors running from the footer to the roof sill was common building practice in Florida.
The greed of the ‘80s and ‘90s shifted to beefed up stick construction which isn’t hurricane proof.
Looks Inca.
In short, thermal performance. That said, a variation of that concept has good thermal qualities for many regions of the country, ICF’s. Insulated Concrete Forms are building blocks that are stacked together and concrete placed inside. They not only provide excellent thermal characteristics but also great structural integrity against the forces of nature. Drawback, cost.
Rammed earth homes provide good thermal characteristics in high cooling degree day climates. Low mass homes Sips, some ICFs and super insulated homes are for high heating degree day climates.
Perfect
Not any, but many. ICF manufacturers would like people to believe ICFs are for any climate, but in high heating degree day climates performance is not as good as a low mass building.
In my humble opinion, this is the perfect building matiral.. :)
I had never heard of it. Must be a fired brick like the clay tile blocks were. They were actually quite good. Not sure they are still made, I’ve never used them.
The Florida building code in high hazard coastal areas is detailed and expensive, but does not involve interlocking cement blocks.
Rather cheesy, don’t you think?
Temple of Borobudur is a remarkable construction, the largest Buddhist monument in the world.
I just wonder that if this guy can take credit for his Javanese ancestors’ handicraft, why am I not allowed to extol my own Anglo ancestors’ genius in the U.S. Constitution?
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