patrick.net

Neat idea, surprised it took this long.

They do specifically mention "The block has been designed with the aid of top experts in building and design; the block and its associated structures are made for extreme strength, including during earthquakes and weather-related stresses."I'd like to see if building with these bricks will meet CA building codes.

The company also mentions "extraordinary tensile strength" normally a weakness of masonry. Could make for some interesting designs.

It was also interesting to see a robot doing all the construction...

New Renter says

The company also mentions "extraordinary tensile strength" normally a weakness of masonry.

Beginning in New York in the 1980s, and continuing more recently in California, secrets of ancient Roman concrete have been re-discovered: volcanic ash and seawater. Since the 1980s, reinforced concrete has achieved tensile strength approaching steel. Older, unreinforced masonry raises concerns in earthquake zones, but recent materials can be tremendously strong and durable.

New Renter says

I'd like to see if building with these bricks will meet CA building codes.

Alas, codes tend to protect local industries, so I imagine they might put up resistance. It's like Uber vs the taxi companies: Uber needed to raise a lot of cash in an IPO, not because it takes a lot of supercomputing power to schedule a pickup, but rather because it takes a lot of political power to battle or bribe local taxi commissions. The MID and other subsidies that enable people to overpay for housing have consequently enabled whole protected industries of wasteful spending, and those won't give up their markups without a fight.

curious2 says

Since then, reinforced concrete has achieved tensile strength approaching steel. Older, unreinforced masonry raises concerns in earthquake zones, but recent materials can be tremendously strong.

Tensile strength isn't what we should be looking at to determine ash concrete's suitability as a building material. As a brittle material, toughness or fracture toughness are more appropriate.

The papers I've seen highlight the environmental aspect over the improvement in concrete properties (although some do show improved fracture toughness).

APOCALYPSEFUCKisShostikovitch says

Doesn't matter. Any house will be a million+ in a few months, even if it's a tent.

$1M anyone?

So many high-tech construction techniques proposed. But when will we be able to use them? So far even printing houses is vaporware. The construction industry is starting to resemble the car industry from the 1950s. Lots of concept cars that never see the light of day.

tatupu70 says

The papers I've seen highlight the environmental aspect over the improvement in concrete properties (although some do show improved fracture toughness).

Grants related to the study of climate change have caused papers on practically every subject to highlight environmental aspects, in the same way that PR campaigns cause commercial "news" to tout advertisers' latest wares. Concrete has really improved though, in every way including toughness and even appearance. The only other thing on earth that can even approach the speed and strength of concrete in making liquid stone and then hardening it is a volcano, and concrete is much easier to handle in a downtown environment.

http://etchedinstonedesigns.com/Showcase.html