Retreats on the cheap?

[the-gnole]

I guess you have looked into it then, but somehow missed the facts about where the strength is in a shipping container.

[triffid]

Something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3EAJex1 ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JNobiOx ... re=related

[the-gnole]

Good concerning advice, but how do you explain container ships. I've seen shipping containers stacked 30- 40 high loaded with goods. I would be more concered with them rusting out, unless a rust inhibitor was painted on first (like Antifouling paint for boat hulls) and/ or a water resistant membrane wraped around it.

See my post above. These are designed to be stacked, when stacked the weight is on the corners where just the corners have reinforced steel pillars. There is no weight on the roof. When buried the roof will have considerable weight on it with the dirt, water, etc.

There is a BIG difference between stacking containers and burying them.

All the weight is onthe corner posts, there is an allround gap between the containers.

In the linked videos he has braced the inside with some pretty big steels to distribute the load on the roof. ie, they aren't standard units buried under ground.

[Moony]

as explained above, you both have made good points about the strength..yes the steel 'walls/roof' are relatively thin and will not support a huge amount of weight as pointed out by gnole. the 150t supported at the bottom of a 5-6 box stack is largely supported by the very strong frame of the box, whereas if you bury a box that weight is not supported entirely by the frame as it is sitting on the roof. I'd be fairly confident that a standard TEU could support soil piled up to a depth of a few foot, tbh I'd be more worried about the effects of rust after a year or two that will cause a collapse. Once it's buried it's hard to monitor the degree of rust on the outside and u can't exactly easily re-paint it Anti-fouling paint etc is only good for a few years and needs re-applying however good it is.

Non-insulated TEU's tend to suffer from a build-up of miosture too without adequate ventilation. Certainly TEU's are a great possibility for stores and such above ground, but tbh i'd prefer to get a large diameter concrete sewer pipe or something similar if I wanted to bury it. It's stronger, will last longer, is no more difficult to bury, and would probably be cheaper. Of course you have to work out how to cap the open ends...

[KalPrep]

You aren't wrong with the facts, however the design of the containers is such that they are brilliant at dealing with compressive loads directed on the main load bearing members. However, if compressive forces are directed onto the sides, the design does not fare so well. If you direct a load at the centre of the face of the cardboard box, it will not support the load as well as if you apply a consistent force across the whole face evenly.

[triffid]

See first youtube - temporary supports while many tonnes of concrete was poured on top. When the concrete (ferro cement) dried it would add considerably to the strength.

The loading of soil is not that heavy 20kg/sqm. A shipping container could be carrying a car weighing say 2 tonnes 1/4 of which could be supported on a fraction of each tyre

And yes, Mooney I undertand your points. I would 'sheath' the container in glassfibre. And as I said use an insulated container.

[the-gnole]

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=shippi ... 60&bih=628

Some useful info on structual strengths

http://www.residentialshippingcontainer ... rements%20

Also worth bearing in mind that a cubic foot of soil weighs about 100lb, so best not bury them too deep

Concrete surrounding the container is also different to loading the roof with soil, a bit like applying pressure to the top and bottom of an egg, it takes a considerable amount of pressure.

[Moony]

Another point to consider if u want to live in a container..the wooden floors are often treated with some really nasty chemicals to prevent moulds, funguses, insects etc. make sure you replace the floors or that the one you intend to use has a 'safe' flooring.

I've looked into container housing quite alot myself, think its a great idea, cheap, modular, easy to move etc, theres loads of info out there to research !

[the-gnole]

Travelodge had a building done with them in Uxbridge

http://inhabitat.com/travelodge-shippin ... ner-hotel/

[Moony]

Yup that's one of the biggest designs to date..a great use of containers. Theres also alot of student housing projects as well as military blast-resistant designs that make a for quick deploying military base allowing protection against mortar / small arms attacks.