A free flowing bulk material such as cement piled 120 feet deep can exert a pressure of more than 5 tons per square foot at the base of the dome. The Monolithic Dome is engineered to contain this amount of pressure. In some of the domes this means utilizing up to a million pounds reinforcing steel. Condensation is minimal in a Monolithic Dome because of the super insulation on the exterior of the concrete. Many products store better in a cooler, insulated structure, too.
Most bulk materials suffer when wet.
The most common source of water in a conventional bulk storage is condensation. Corrosion almost always accompanies condensation. Many bulk materials, such as fertilizers, are highly corrosive. By controlling condensation much of the problem goes away. The concrete utilized in a Monolithic Dome is denser and more chemical resistant than conventional concrete and additives can be used to further increase resistance.