Fiberglass Arch Forms for Reinforced Concrete Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an affordable and eco-friendly method to produce inexpensive housing components, specifically roofs, that do not use steel and can provide structural strength, are lightweight for shipping, and suitable for off-grid solar-powered homes, particularly in areas lacking access to electricity and traditional building materials.
Innovation Solution
A method involving single-layer rigid fiberglass arch forms secured with a binder like cement or eco-bricks, which are placed parallel and supported temporarily until the binder cures, creating a continuous, void-free structure that can span long distances and support additional loads without metal reinforcement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel reinforcement is used to provide structural strength, then the strength and reliability of housing components is improved, but the weight and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system consisting of concrete embedded in a fiberglass form. The concrete provides compressive strength while the fiberglass form provides tensile strength and structural integrity, eliminating the need for steel reinforcement. This composite approach achieves the required structural strength without the weight and cost of steel.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiberglass form acts as a thin, flexible shell that provides structural strength and shape to the concrete. The fiberglass reinforcement embedded in the concrete form creates a reinforced concrete structure without requiring steel, reducing weight while maintaining or improving strength.
2Reliability
If steel reinforcement is used to ensure structural integrity, then the reliability is improved, but the cost and complexity of manufacture increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fiberglass-reinforced concrete composite provides structural integrity without the complexity of steel reinforcement installation. The fiberglass form is pre-fabricated and simply needs to be filled with concrete, eliminating the need for complex steel bar placement, tying, and reinforcement detailing that characterizes traditional steel-reinforced concrete construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiberglass form serves as a disposable mold that is filled with concrete and then discarded or reused a limited number of times. This eliminates the need for permanent steel reinforcement, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs while maintaining structural integrity through the fiberglass-concrete composite action.
3Strength
If traditional housing materials are used to provide structural strength, then the strength is improved, but the cost and environmental impact worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines concrete (providing compressive strength) with fiberglass reinforcement (providing tensile strength) to create a composite material that achieves the structural strength of traditional materials while reducing cost and environmental impact. The fiberglass form system enables simplified construction processes and eliminates the need for expensive and environmentally damaging steel production and transportation.
Data Source
AI summary
A housing component system having fiberglass resin forms secured in place with a binder such as cement. The forms may have a variety of forms and once secured with the cement will be strong avoiding the need for any reinforcement components such as reinforcing bar (rebars) of metal mesh.