Method and apparatus for erecting substantially dome-like building structures

Claim 1

A method for erecting substantially dome-like building structures, comprising setting of a generally annular foundation work, anchoring, to said foundation work, of a membrane adapted to take, upon inflation with a gaseous fluid, a shape at least in part matching the structure to be erected, arranging of first elastically deformable reinforcing members over said membrane, still deflated, linking of said members to said foundation work, spreading over said deflated membrane and said first reinforcing members of a first layer of concrete material having a thickness dimension such as to result in a first thin dome portion with respect to the final desired thickness of the dome, inflating of said membrane to the desired shape, laying, on the extrados of said first portion as soon as the latter has hardened substantially and while said membrane is still under tension, of second reinforcing members and of a second layer of concrete material, so dimensioned as to result in a second dome portion of greater thickness than said first dome portion, and applying a means for making said second portion rigid with said first thin portion, wherein during the step of laying said second layer of concrete material and said second reinforcing members, framing edges are concurrently laid where openings have to be provided in the building structure, said second layer being arranged only outside of said framing edges.

Claim 2

A method for erecting substantially dome-like building structures, comprising setting of a generally annular foundation work, anchoring, to said foundation work, of a membrane adapted to take, upon inflation with a gaseous fluid, a shape at least in part matching the structure to be erected, arranging of first elastically deformable reinforcing members over said membrane, still deflated, linking of said members to said foundation work, spreading over said deflated membrane and said first reinforcing members of a first layer of concrete material having a thickness dimension such as to result in a first thin dome portion with respect to the final desired thickness of the dome, inflating of said membrane to the desired shape, laying, on the extrados of said first portion as soon as the latter has hardened substantially and while said membrane is still under tension, of second reinforcing members and of a second layer of concrete material, so dimensioned as to result in a second dome portion of greater thickness than said first dome portion, and applying a means for making said second portion rigid with said first thin portion, wherein during the step of laying said second layer of concrete material and said second reinforcing members, framing edges are concurrently laid where openings have to be provided in the building structure, said second layer being arranged only outside of said framing edges.