Re: Use of concrete.

[shawl@torchlake.com (Jonathan Shawl)]

Hi Erik, and all,
Check the archives for details, but what some of us have found is concrete is
too heavy for a safe wall thickness on a small sub. If you are talking about a
under water habitat that just sits on the bottom then I think the answer was
yes it could be done. Please don't feel like you are wasting anyone's time,
your not, we talk about stuff like this all the time and most of us enjoy it.
If we are lucky we all learn something in the process. And if it is not in
someone's interest they just skip over it. Check out my home made, steel
yel-o-sub at www.nwcis.com/submarine. Also my first failed attempt at a sub, I
call it "the shark boat" now. That was more than 20 years ago before we all had
the internet to bounce ideas off each other. I learned a lot the hard way. And
I'm still learning by hanging around this group.
So welcome aboard and enjoy diving into the group.
Jon Shawl

Erik Michael Muller wrote:

> Hi!, I too am new, and have had the thought of small subs in my head for a
> long time, which i think is the best way to have it before you plunge
> straight in!.
>
> I have a question regarding the use of concrete in personal subs, and I
> notice that concrete subs were discussed a little before, so please forgive
> me if i am going over old ground.
> I would have thought that the excellent compressive strength of concrete
> would have been an enormous advantage. Coupled with the kind of 'sealing'
> that you might get from pouring concrete.
> Because i havent bothered to find out the density of concrete and do the
> sums, i am unaware how large a submarine is required to achive some kind of
> boyancy, my guess however is quite large.  Anyone fill me in on this?
>
> I though also that concrete is significantly cheaper than steel/iron per
> ton, and could significantly reduce cost??
>
> Maybe i am all just too ignorant, in which case i apologise for wasting
> peoples time!
> otherwise please set me straight or fill me in etc.
>
> Thanks!
> E.M.