UNDERGROUND BUILDING STRUCTURE

Abstract: A dome-type structure made of basic polyhedral units (21) incorporating tie bolt members (45) at the edges to facilitate the bolting of the building units together and the sealing between the building units. Recesses (48) in the edges of the units facilitate grouting for sealing between units. The structure (20), when combined with a half-cylindrical structure (30), is particularly adapted for underground installation.

Description: Title: Underground Building Structure Technical Field This invention relates to a building structure and more particularly to a dome-type building structure made of precast units which are fitted together to form an underground structure. Background Art Domed structures have been used in the past because of the savings in material due to the efficient use of the building materials. Usually such structures are made of separate triangular units and while the individual triangular units are relatively easily made, the fastening of these units together in an efficient and effective manner which allows the structure to be self-supporting during construction and watertight thereafter has presented problems. With the present concern for the conservation of energy, underground structures have taken on a greater importance. Since the dome structure is effi- cient in. withstanding high compression loads, it is natural to adapt this structure to an underground location. However, problems arise in the fixing to¬ gether of the building units. Additionally sealing between the units becomes much more important because once the structure is assembled and covered, it is much more difficult to locate and fix a leak. Additionally it is advantageous to make the structure in a manner such that the building units can be transported from a fabricating site to the construction site. Underground structures frequently are located in hilly country because it is easier to dig the hole and access to the structure is facilitated if the structure is incorpo¬ rated into a hillside. It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved method for fabricating OMPI and assembling a dome structure. Disclosure of the Invention A building comprising a plurality of poly¬ gonal shaped units each formed with the center raised and with the edges adapted to fit together and form a continuous wall or continuum. For fastening the units together, there are incorporated certain overlapping plates which can be bolted or welded together once the units are aligned to provide initial support. There- after fastening devices may be inserted at the junctures of " the units, which devices contact each unit separately and by the tightening of a bolt extending therethrough, align and hold the units in place. Afterwards the units are grouted together to form a rigid sealed structure. Rods extending between units are positioned in aligned channels in each unit edge to allow grouting between the building units after assembly to form a continuous and well—sealed wall. The domed structure may be joined with a half— cylindrical structure to provide an underground building with access from ground level through the half-cylindrical structure. Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a side view of a domed module made in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a side view showing the adding of the arch section to the front of the domed module? FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the completed underground structure; FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show various stages of assembly of the domed module; FIG. 4A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the footing structure; FIG 7 is a side rear view of the dome module; FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a joint between building units; FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the mold for forming a hexagonal building unit; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10; FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are perspective views of different polygonal shapes for the domed module panels; FIG. 15 shows the combination arched and domed structure; and FIGS. 16A, 16B, 17A, 17B, 18A, 18B, 19A and 19B show alternative ways of fixing the adjacent build- ing units together. Description of the Invention Shown in. FIG. 1 is a domed module 20 made of . a combination of different building units. The structure includes a hexagonal building unit 21, a half hexagonal unit 22 having a window 24 therein, and a solid hexag¬ onal unit 25. A pentagonal unit 26 is used having windows 23 therein and- a hexagonal unit with a door 27 is also shown. These polygonal configurations all have edges of equal length and thickness such that they can be joined together to form the total domed module. Fibrous reinforced concrete lends itself extremely well as a material for the precast structures. The added flexural and tensile capacity of fibrous concrete en¬ sures sufficient strength and increases crack control. Also the fibrous concrete stiffness increases the form- ability characteristics which is very helpful when pouring geodesic panels, and especially the arches. In FIG. 2" is shown the same domed module 20 with the addition of a horizontal arch or half-cylin- drical structure 30. The arch structure comprises a plurality of building units 31 which are stood on a lower edge 32 with an upper edge 34 abutting a similar upper edge of a facing unit to form an arch. Any number of these building units can be assembled to form an arch extending from the dome module, which arch is use¬ ful to increase the internal volume of the structure, for extending the structure to the side for housing automobiles, et cetera, and for retaining wall or sun¬ shade purposes. The domed module illustrated is made of a combination of polygonal forms or building units each of which is individually domed or has a raised center to add to the overall strength of the structure. As shown in FIG. 4, the structure is started by the place- ment of the half hexagonal forms 22 on the foundation 36. In the embodiment shown there are five half hex¬ agonals and five hexagonals used to form the first level of the building unit. The foundation is formed in the manner shown in FIG. 4A with an optional groove 36A therein to receive the bottom edges of the building units. Grout 36C is. placed around the units after they are positioned an aligned. In this manner the shear forces are provided for and effective sealing is accom¬ plished between the foundation and upper structure. The concrete floor 36B can be poured any time after the bottom- level units are placed. Following- the assembly of the first level of half hexagonal and hexagonal units, a row of five pentagonal units 25 are set on top of the- half hexagonal units. Thereafter the next layer of five hexagonal units 21 are placed as shown in FIG. 7 and the top is sealed with a pentagonal unit. In this manner the domed module is constructed. Shoring beams are used to sup¬ port the first 15 panels. Poles with screen jacks on the bottom are used to support 3 of the 5 last hexagon OMPI panels. The top pentagonal panel needed no additional support and was inserted third from last. The building units are fabricated on a form 40 shown in FIG. 10. In this instance the form is illus- trated for the formation of a hexagonal building unit. As illustrated in this figure and FIG. 11, a base 41 is utilized having a convex or raised upper surface config¬ uration corresponding to that desired for the building unit. Near the perimeter of the base there is mounted a frame 42 which forms the outer periphery or edge of the building unit. The frame has a height equal to the desired thickness of the building panel. At the center of the base is positioned a screed pin 44 which projects vertically from the base a distance at least equal to the desired thickness of the unit. For pouring the unit, a screed board is placed on this pin and moved around on the top surface of the frame 42 to level the cement. A blockout 43 for this embodiment serves to form the recesses 48 and.51 in the edge of the unit, the purpose of which will be explained later. Positioned at the edges of each building unit and embedded within the unit in this embodiment are bolt ties 45 (FIGS. 8, 16A and 16B) which extend past the edge 46 of each unit in alignment with the bolt tie of the adjacent unit. These ties serve two purposes, the first being a guide for aligning the units with each other and the second being to hold the units together to allow for grouting and sealing therebetween. These ties include a hole 47 for receiving a bolt 47A to hold the unit together after the unit is placed on the supporting unit to maintain the unit in position until final securing and sealing with grout. For attaching the units together in this embodiment, there are provided the plurality of recesses OMPI 48 which extend normal to the edge of the unit. In the instance shown in FIG. 8, there are nine such recesses on each unit edge. To reinforce these recesses, a rebar 49 extends thereacross the length of the side of the unit. This rebar is positioned above the bottom of the recesses 48 so as to be exposed where it crosses a recess. To provide added strength at the joint, a tie bar 50 (FIG. 9) can be overlapped with the rods 49. Thereafter grouting is placed in the recesses 48 and the joint recess 51. This grout can be mortar or if desired, epoxy can be used to provide additional strength. By using the individually domed polyhedrol units, greater strength is derived from the structure than would be obtained if the units were planar. The bolt ties serve to hold the units in position for grout¬ ing- and also add strength to the joint. The units made in this manner are easily fabricated and transported to the building site and assembly of the modular system can be achieved. Other methods of attaching adjacent polygonal units together are shown in FIGS. 17A through 19B. In FIGS. 17A and 17B there is shown one method wherein the polygonal units 64 are formed with a recess 65 extending around the edge. On each corner of the extending ledge 66 is positioned a curved channel 67 having welded or otherwise fixed thereto a pair of rebar supports 68 extending into the unit. The channels are recessed even with the edge 69 of the unit so as to butt against the channel of the abutting unit. When SO positioned the abutting channels can be welded together to maintain the units in alignment. Thereafter grout 70 is placed in the recess 65 to seal the joint between units. A method of joining the corners of adjacent units is shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B. In this embodiment the channels 67 are cast in the same manner as shown in - mT ΪE Tϊ OMPI FIG. 17A. After the units are placed together there remains a void 70 at the juncture of the three units 64. A bolt 71 (FIG. 18B) is placed through this void with a washer 72 and nut 74 threaded therein. Tighten- ing of the nut closely aligns the adjacent units and tends to hold them together, however if desired, the channels can be welded for added strength. In FIGS. 19A and 19B is shown yet another embodiment of the invention in which the channels 67 are formed in the polygonal units 64 in the same manner as in FIGS. 17A and 18A. In this embodiment there is inserted the bolt 71 through the void 70 with a cap placed thereover to be clamped in place by the nut 74. This cap has the legs 76 extending past the channels 67 to serve to withstand both shear and tensile forces. In this manner welding of the channels may be dispersed with,yet there is applied to all adjacent units a force tending to both align and hold together the units. These channels are supported in the forms prior to pouring- the cement. As shown in FIG. 3, the structure is partic¬ ularly adapted for use as an underground structure, with a maximum of four feet of earth over the peak of - the structure for insulation. In this manner moderation against excessive heat loss or gain is provided. Another plastic or insulation covering 56 may be placed in the fill dirt to minimize the seepage of ground water down to the structure. The arch structure 30 is shown in FIG. 3 as providing an exposed side of the domed structure for windows and access. However, by extending this arch in the manner shown in FIG. 15, the living area and a garage for automobiles is provided for. The arch structure and the domed structure are compatible for an underground installation since both are efficient in OMPJ withstanding the heavy dead loads created by the earth fill and the structures interfit in a manner to make sealing therebetween easier. The arch structure can also be used to join two domed structures. In the structure shown in FIG. 15, the domed structure 20 is assembled in the manner previously described. The haIf-cylindrical culvert 30A is extended from the side of the domed structure. Access doors 57 and 58 connect the upper and lower levels of both structures. The lower level of the culvert forms a garage 59 accessible through a door 60. The upper level extends the living area of the domed structure. The earth fill 61 extends over all the structures except the open end 62 or 30 (FIG. 3) or both through which access. is gained from ground level. As shown, the structure preferably is incorporated into a hillside to provide level access to the outside. Thus the use of the combination of the domed and arched structures provides versatility in theOver- all shape of the underground structure. The particular modular units described allow off-site fabrication or mass production.. The units are protected against damage by incorporation of the channels 67 to both reinforce the.corners and serve as a stabilizing structure during assembly. By bolting the units together, unskilled labor can be utilized during assembly of the units and alignment assured. The grouting of the units serves both to seal between units and to strengthen the over¬ all structure.

Claims: Claims 1. A building comprising : a plurality of polygonal shaped units each formed with the edges adapted to fit together to form a domed structure; means to fasten said unit edges together to form the domed structure comprising: a plurality of bolt ties fixed in each unit and extending towards the edge thereof to overlap the bolt ties of the adjacent unit and each including a hole therethrough to receive a bolt for fastening the units together. 2. A building as defined in Claim 1 wherein each of said polygonal units includes a raised center portion facing the outside of the structure. 3. A building as defined in Claim 1 wherein each polygonal unit includes a plurality of recesses extending towards the edge thereof and into which grout can be placed to seal, between adjacent units. 4. A building as defined in Claim 3 including a reinforcing bar formed integral in each unit and extending parallel to the unit edge and through said recesses. 5. A building as defined in Claim 4 wherein a second reinforcing bar is placed in said recess to extend into the recess of an adjacent unit before the grouting is placed in the recess. 6. A building as defined in Claim 3 including a channel positioned at the corners of each unit to protect said corners and serve to reinforce the unit during assembly with other units.. lll l 7. A building as defined in Claim 6 wherein said units when assembled form an opening between adjacent channels at the corners and including a bolt passed through said opening with a nut tightened to hold the channels together. 8. A building as defined in Claim 7 including washers placed on said bolt to bear against said chan¬ nels and align the adjacent units. 9. A form for casting a domed polygonal building unit comprising: a base having a raised center portion; a frame extending upward from said base and positioned about said raised portion to form the edges of said unit; and a plurality of spacers extending from said frame and towards said raised portion whereby said spacers will form pockets in the edges of said units. 10. A form as defined in Claim 9 including means to support a. plurality of channels adjacent said frame. 11. A form as defined in Claim 9 including a screed pin extending vertically from said base center portion to provide a support for a screed board. 12. An underground structure comprising: a domed structure; a half-cylindrical structure positioned with an arched surface extending upward and having a first end abutting and fixed to said domed structure and a second open end; a passageway in the domed structure connecting the interior thereof with the interior of said half-cylindrical structure; and earth fill covering said domed and half- cylindrical structures except the half-cylindrical second end to allow access into said underground structure.. 13. A building comprising: a plurality of polygonal shaped units - each formed with the edges adapted to fit together to form a domed structure; means to fasten said unit edges together to form, the domed structure comprising: a channel fixed to each corner of each unit and shaped to protect the corner and form an opening between said units when the units are fitted together; and a bolt passed through said opening. with * a nut thereon and tightened against said channels to align and hold said units together. 14. A building as defined in Claim 13 including a cap placed around said bolt and having legs contacting each of said adjacent unit edges. OMH

Inventors: HAIT JOHN N, OSSEGE ROBERT F JR, HAIT, JOHN, N., OSSEGE, ROBERT, F., JR.
Applicants: ENVIRONMENTAL DYNAMICS
Application year: 1981
Main classification: E04B1
IPC codes: E04B1