Inflatable Concrete Dome

Jun-16-14 A new type of inflatable concrete could make building large, sturdy structures out of concrete—such as concert domes or highway underpasses—much quicker and less expensive.

Developed by a team from the Vienna University of Technology, the inflation system is made up of a flat concrete slab that hardens on the ground with an air cushion below it. The slab is made up of several precisely-cut wedges with spaces left between each piece. As the cushion inflates, the concrete bends upward to form a solid shell, with each piece supporting the others. And although small cracks form as the concrete is bent, they do not hinder the stability of the shell if the placement of each wedge segment is correct. The final structure can also be plastered, rendering it as stable as a conventionally-built concrete dome.

Professor Johann Kollegger compares the process that of eating a common fruit: “It is similar to an orange peel, which is regularly cut and then flattened out on the table. We do it the other way around, starting with a flat surface and then bending it to a shell.”

More Info about this Invention:

[SCIENCEDAILY.COM]
[VIENNA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY]

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