The Biodigestor Dome Nears Completion

The Villa Soleada masons have quickly picked up the skills needed to build the dome for the top of the biodigestor. The construction depends heavily on principles of physics to allow the dome to be correctly assembled. Oscar Rubi taught the Villa masons how to counterbalance the effects of gravity on the bricks. As the work progressed, the bricks became more and more prone to the effects of gravity as the masons tried to enclose the top of the dome. Thanks to Oscar Rubi's engineering experience, the masons were able to successfully lay the last row of bricks without a single brick falling out of its place. If you look at the photos you will notice how each row that is added to the dome becomes more and more horizontal. The bricks naturally lean in on each other in order to create the angled walls of the dome, which (along with the wet cement placed between each brick) creates friction that helps to keep the bricks from moving. However the force of gravity is much greater than the force of friction and additional measures must be taken to prevent the bricks from moving until the cement has hardened. Anchors with specially made hooks are used to try and counter act the effects of gravity on the bricks. As the bricks become more and more parallel, cinder blocks must be used instead of bricks to anchor the recently laid bricks in place. As the masons wait for each new row of bricks to dry, they have begun the process of stuccoing the interior and exterior of the the dome. Once they are finished, the dome will look as if it were made completely of cement.