The Red Brick Times

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Posted 11:56 AM by A. O. (2) comments

       Comments:

Aligning the optical fibers during the pour is the part for which I cannot visualize the machinery. The concrete appears to be a very fine-grained variety, which implies very small aggregate; silica sand instead of stones or rocks. If the conrete is pumped into the mold under pressure, and is forced around and through the matrix of optical fibers that is clamped in place at both ends, it doesn't matter what entanglement of fibers occurs in the middle. As long as both ends remain aligned, the image will be assembled correctly on the shadow side. If fibers were thrown into the mix without securing the ends, very few would peek out at each side to transmit light. It is also possible that they cast long sections, keeping fibers aligned, and then cut them into blocks of the desired thicknesss.

Combining the thermal-storage capacity of masonry with light-transmission capabilities makes it easier to build passive solar structures without them feeling like grey drab prisons. The web site indicates that light transmission is unaffected at thicknesses up to 20 meters. That's a very thick wall!

# posted by  Andy : May 10, 2006 11:34 AM
 
Very handy for that all-important underground bunker we'll all be building soon. Just think if you angle the fibers you could bring a modicum of light into a basement. Kind of like a vision impaired camera oscura.

# posted by  A. O. : May 11, 2006 10:29 AM
 
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