Precast concrete dome system

Claim 1

A domed self-supporting frameless building structure comprising a plurality of monolithic precast, elongated, concrete panels arranged in marginal edge-to-edge compressive force transmitting mutually interdependent supporting relationship with one another such that said panels are under compressive loadings along their marginal edges in both the longitudinal and lateral directions, the longitudinal edges of each of said panels coinciding with imaginary lines of longitude of a spherical or sphere-like shape; there being a plurality of circumferential courses of said panels with the panels of each said course being in end-to-end compressive force transmitting relation with the panels of the next adjacent course, a tension ring surrounding the lower extremity of the lowermost course of said panels and the lowermost ends of the panels of said lowermost course being in abutting force transmitting relation with said ring thereby to assist in securing all of said panels together in said marginal edge to edge compressive force transmitting relationship so that the domed structure behaves as a thin shell with all of said panels being under said compressive loadings and wherein the longitudinal edges of said panels have elongated step-like recesses therein such that, in their edge-to-edge relation, an elongated U-shaped recess is defined at the joint between each adjacent pair of said panels, each said recess containing a grouting compound to fill the joints between said panels, and the ends of said panels of each course which are in said end-to-end relation with the panels of the next adjacent course having recesses therein forming lapped joints between said ends of said panels in adjacent courses such that during erection the end of each panel of a succeeding course may be supported from the end of an adjacent panel of the preceding course.