Design and construction aspects of a soil stabilized dome used for low-cost housing

A dearth of low cost housing in developing countries is a current and widespread problem. Although dome structures are not a common form of housing, the shape has many favorable characteristics which leads to a significant reduction in construction cost. The proposed structure is a composite, constructed out of stabilized soil bricks and plastered with a fibre impregnated structural plaster. However, the proposed structure has several challenging aspects - the analysis is complex and the construction difficult. This paper deals with both issues. The design adapts membrane equations from classical theory, but boundary conditions, which introduces complexities in the analysis, are dealt with in a simplified manner. A method of construction is also proposed to ensure quality control of materials and to ensure that the walls are constructed within acceptable tolerances. A prototype dome was constructed which is also described.