This is an “Open Source” concept.

I imagined taking that craft – turning it upside down – putting a bend in it and replacing the Boulder dam with it.

Much the research was completed over 60 years ago.

I have thought about this for some years now. The list of potential amending age agents is nearly endless. Some are: Dirt, Sand, Pebbles, Rocks, Boulders, Chain link Fencing, Leaves, Wood Chips, Telephone poles, Gases, Whole Trees, Shredded Plastic, Paper, Card board, Carbon Fiber, Mylar, Fabric of all nature {discarded clothing, Fabric Scrapes], +++.

One agent that I would like to see tried: Raw, seeded, Cotton. Done at different compression levels and different temperatures to see what emergent properties occur.

Please find above a video depicting the strength and durability of using Polyester cloth as the amending agent.

Please find below: A description of , as a first attempt, building a wall 50′ wide X 16′ deep and  16′ tall. The purpose of building this wall is to demonstrate the viability of of this construction method.  It is also meant to work out the “Kinks” in the process.

Building this wall: This expression is meant to get others into the ball park of a construction method and not to be seen as a final solution. There is so much potential that needs to be developed that it is going to require the minds of many people to see this through to completion. It should present an opportunity for Structural Engineers to play with new materials.

Things that I would need:

1st  A location that routinely experiences below freezing temperatures.

2nd  A nearly flat surface of a size to accommodate structure. Examples; Tennis court, Parking lot, Dirt field etc.

3rd  Access to liquid water. Best guess at near 34 or 35 degrees F.

4th Chosen amending agent[s].  I like discarded clothing, Fabric scrapes and cloth of any  nature but Saw Dust would do.

5th  128 sheets of 1/4″  4’X8′ plywood.

6th  184 pieces of 8′ long 2″X4″‘s.

7th 200 square yards of netting.

8th  PVC pipe: 64 pieces 8′ long X 3″ diameter – 30 pieces 10′ long X 2″ diameter – 1 piece 20′ long X 10″.

9th  Plenty of fast setting epoxy expanding foam.

10th 144 sections of 50′ highly flexible, thin walled garden hose. The hose is to be used for establishing a pathway for refrigerant gas and can be accomplished in a variety of ways.

11th Appropriate fittings [plumbing] for creating cooling system.

12th Anti freeze or maybe alcohol for inflating and cooling the hose and each layer during construction of wall. This is the 1st phase of creating cooling system. Once pathway has been established and Anti freeze/alcohol has been vacated gaseous coolant to be used for cooling wall down to much colder temperatures.

13th  Cooling and refrigerant systems. I would start off with radiators and 12 volt electric fans taken from dead cars at the wrecking yard and pumps to move and cool the liquid refrigerant. —- A more sophisticated system for moving and cooling the  gaseous refrigerant needs to be made. I would seriously consider using Air as the gaseous refrigerant – It’s moisture content is very low at temperatures below freezing.

14th  Glue and Duck tape.

Construction:

There is a basic unit that I’ll a “Panel”. They will come in 3 forms. All will bare this in common; 1 sheet of plywood laid flat on the ground. 8  11″ pieces of 3″ PVC pipe to be glued in this pattern;  4 to be glued 1′ diagonally from each corner – 4 to be glued along vertical & horizontals line 1′ from center. Allow glue to set – Apply glue to exposed ends of 3″ PVC and place 2nd sheet of plywood and allow to set. This forms a sandwich later to be filled with foam.

24 of the panels will have 12  2″ holes pre-drilled with 1 having a 10″ hole cut in the center. 1 of the remaining 64 panels also having a 10″ hole center drilled in it. This is to create a pathway for the 20′ X 10″ PVC pipe.  The pattern for the 12 holes in each panel is:   8″ from bottom left corner and 3″ from bottom edge 1st 2″ hole – 2′ over 2nd hole – Repeat from other  bottom edge – The next set of 4  2″ holes to be pre-drilled are to be 1 and a 3rd foot above the 1st set of holes and the 3rd set to be drilled 1 and a 3rd foot above the 2nd set of holes. These 12 hole in each of the 24 panels are to create pathways to the interior of the wall and this pathway are formed with 12  2″ PVC sections glued into place.

Putting the pieces together:

1st Temperature – TEMPERATURE – TEMPERATURE

2nd Stand on long edge 6 access sided panels in line to form a 48′ wall, 4’ tall. During construction 2″X4″‘s board used to connect panels to be inserted. Brace if necessary, braces can be removed after ice has been formed.

3rd  Form the complete rectangle – Cap exposed ends to support introduction of Fast setting Epoxy foam.

4th  Stand 2 2/4’s in each panel.

5th Fill each panel with foam and while it is setting introduce the 1st stage of the cooling system.

6th. 1st stage: Lay out section of hose in a meandering fashion [bracketed if necessary] on the ground floor with the ends near 2″ access holes – introduce appropriate Plumbing for completing cooling system Note: For those of you that want more complete explanations of how this is made to happen — This is an Open Source concept and I am just trying to open a door – We can’t do  this alone.

7th Suspend netting 1 foot from the inner side of each inner wall – nail to the floor – The netting is to allow the containment, close to exterior walls, of chosen amending agents.

8th  Lay out temperature sensors and connection lines – Run through access holes.

9th Plug access holes with foam.

10th  Pressurize hose [appropriately] with liquid coolant. Given: The cooling system is a important.

11th Fill the cavity with saturated cloths and shoes to a depth of 14 inch’s – Fill with the “Right” temperature water. Engage coolant system. That gets us back to rule # 1 – TEMPERATURE  Where you start and where you want to go.

12th Allow to freeze – maybe with some “Tamping”

13th Install 10″ X 20’ and insulate. The area around this pipe can never allowed to become unfrozen. To this end I would run extra coolant lines along insulation of 10″ PVC pipe. This pipe represents the pathway of water that is to be used for generation electricity.

14th  Repeat process to a level of within 1 inch of the top of the base set of panels.

15th  Install level 2.

16th By this time the bottom levels should be solidly frozen and the liquid coolant is to be drained and reused on higher levels. The system is re configured and connected to a gaseous coolant system.

17th Once wall has been completed I would cap with a foot or so of expanding foam.

18th  Remember that this is being done during the coldest time of winter. I would take the interior down to -100 °F and expect that I would be good for at least a year – probably more – before it needed to be re-refrigerated.

©Lance Farrar 2019