hmmm, didn't take first time...


"The steel re-enforcement Earthquake codes force people to put in buildings may work in standard masonry, but actually weaken Adobe.... "

An Aussie has recently invented a cheap and simple method for tying together mud very low level structures using locally found materials - bamboo and fencing wire - this technique is being used in rebuilding in the recent earthquake and tsunami zones to the north of Australia, and I think perhaps elsewhere in the world.

It is just intended to hold the building together long enough so that people can run outside before the roof falls on them and kills them. It has been tested on 'shake tables' - think it even made it onto the ABC (Oz) TV program 'New Inventors' this year or last.




"a cohesionless homogeneous material consisting of particles of uniform gradation upon a structure such as pile supported marine dock"

In a practical case - i.e. non infinite area, the sand will spill over the edge, so the height is limited by the 'slippage factor' (I'm not a qualified engineer, so I don't know all the 'real terms'), which any engineer should be able to tell you - there is a critical angle for each material.