Recent content by NotEngineer

Hey aeoliantexan: Yeah I'm very pleasantly surprised about the level of interest! Thanks for your advice. Hokie mentioned loess and said that's the only soil type he knows of which naturally stands vertically, that soil type would make things easier, though the UK is a lot wetter so this may not...

Hey Guys, Wow what a lot of interest, very inspiring indeed! I think the most important factor deciding if this project will be pulled off to the extent where the structure is stable and safe, is how well the input from varied and experienced guys like yourselves is sought, taken on board and...

Hi again Oldestguy, Thanks again for your input, I'm familiar with Frank Lloyd Wright especially because of his rubble trench foundation ideas. This isn't my technique by the way, I'm using a book written by a couple of who live in CA who have built bermed domes with this method already, I'm...

As the top soil is free draining, it's parent soil the subsoil will likely be free draining also, so perhaps even a slightly battered earthbag (rammed building earth in bags) retaining wall below the frost line and gravel filled tyres above the frost line?

Hmm, what about gabions and clean rubble?

Thanks Jayrod, As this is an Eco project it's design is to see what can be done without cement, can you suggest any eco variations? Cheers! Mike

Oldestguy, thanks, here's some of the info you said may be useful: Lat & Long: 50.155853, -5.158280 Soil type (only topsoil info available right now) can be seen using the lat & lon at at http://www.landis.org.uk/soilscapes/ Soilscape 13: Freely draining acid loamy soils over rock Loamy...

I should mention also, the plan to waterproof from above is a massive rubber (epdm) sheet which is supported at it's centre by a bamboo supported sky light, to be the highest point, so water drains off into the gravel trench. Domes finish prematurely before reaching the full dome shape to...

Thanks again for the great answers guys! Sorry for the slow reply, I'm in the UK, it was pretty late when I posted. For some context I've inserted an image below of the mostly self build underground dwelling project. Any input is greatly appreciated! From the image it looks like humidity would...

I forgot to ask, regarding the walls of the hole collapsing into the inside, it would make a big positive difference if the battered hole was round right? Thanks again!

Great! Yeah I'll definitely involve a Geo-engineer. Should he be able to calculate the batter once the soil samples have been taken and analysed by a lab? For the soil I described above, would you be surprised if it only needed a 10% batter or does that sound about right? I'm only using this...

Thanks Hokie! Do you think there's a chance a very stable soil, for example 20% granitic clay, 20% silt, 60% well graded sands and gravel (reasonably compacted) be permanently self supporting if the walls were battered a % outward? I don't think I'd dry out the soil, as it's not a 100% vapour...

Thanks Jayrod12! Perhaps if I had the circular hole walls battered outward, so instead of being vertical walls they were 10° or so they may be permanently self supporting? With an ideal soil composition.

Good point! I didn't mention the depth 11'. If you could explain why it would fall in (even if it was a circular hole?), if only to sate my curiosity I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks for looking at my thread. I'm not an engineer, some general advice would be greatly appreciated. In some cohesive soils, can holes (90° walls) be permanently self supporting if protected (from above and sides) from ground water and weather? I understand if you were asked to confirm that...