Any engineers in here?

[Sukhoi]

Just buy an old missile silo if you're of the military extremist type. If you're ecological, ignore me.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: C6FT7
You're looking for the services of an architect not an engineer.

I'd say it's the other way around.

 

[todpod]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Just buy an old missile silo if you're of the military extremist type. If you're ecological, ignore me.

I am neither really, just makes sense not to blow money on fuel if you don't have to. I have 4 acres out back where this would work nicely.

 

[skyking]

It sounds like a fun project. I toured the plant at concrete tech in tacoma, and I have been on projects using massive bridge beams they made, 120,000# beams 120' long.
The hollow core units they make would be ideal for your application. They are used in parking garages, with fairly high PSF ratings.
http://www.concretetech.com/hcloadtables.htm

Check out the double tees also.

You can build it out of parts and then apply a sealer, and also grade and work the soil above to direct and manage rainfall/runoff.

 

[todpod]

Originally posted by: skyking
It sounds like a fun project. I toured the plant at concrete tech in tacoma, and I have been on projects using massive bridge beams they made, 120,000# beams 120' long.
The hollow core units they make would be ideal for your application. They are used in parking garages, with fairly high PSF ratings.
http://www.concretetech.com/hcloadtables.htm

Check out the double tees also.

You can build it out of parts and then apply a sealer, and also grade and work the soil above to direct and manage rainfall/runoff.

Those suckers got to be expensive, but would work nicely. I guess the big question to ask is how heavy is 1 sq ft of dirt, when it is 3'ft thick. Probably about 50-60 lbs, So I need a roof the will carry a static load of about 70lbs per sq ft right?

 

[skyking]

common soil is around 2600 pounds per cubic yard dry. That is roughly 100 pounds per cubic foot!!
your proposed 3' cap will load a structure to 300PSF.

 

[Analog]

why would you want to do this? There are many better insulators today, and you don't have to worry about water, mildew and living in a concrete tomb.

 

[todpod]

Originally posted by: skyking
common soil is around 2600 pounds per cubic yard dry. That is roughly 100 pounds per cubic foot!!
your proposed 3' cap will load a structure to 300PSF.

I figured when I started throwing numbers around will bring out the engineers. So I got 300lbs psf load, now i just need to carry that.

 

[thomsbrain]

this is called a bomb shelter. maybe google that?

 

[Engineer]

<--- Engineer

(not the type you need though)

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

probably 12" or so, but will depend on the spans involved

 

[alphatarget1]

use steel. steel rules methinks.

 

[todpod]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
probably 12" or so, but will depend on the spans involved

With careful planning I hope to keep most spans between 10 and 12'. This would be with well placed walls and I-Beams