In his YouTube video Grady Hillhouse explains
“Dirt is probably the cheapest and simplest construction material out there, but it’s not very strong compared to other choices. Luckily geotechnical engineers have developed a way to strengthen earthen materials with almost no additional effort…”
The secret is Principle 1 – Segmentation. To prevent a soil structure from becoming too steep and giving way, reinforcement is placed in horizontal layers throughout the height of the structure, giving it the tensile strength to hold the weight above. In other words, if a tall soil hill would fail, make short soil hills, one on top of each other.
Grady builds a soil tower like a series of burger patties with paper in between to segment it. It holds the weight of his car.
Segmentation
Principle 1 – Segmentation invites us to ask the question, “what if we broke it up?” In this case, it seems self-evident that a foot high column of earth won’t hold up under a car, but if we break it up into segments, the answer changes.
What problem are you solving and how could breaking it up make a difference? Let me know below.
Photo credit http://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com/Summer-Holiday-Sand-Structure-Sand-Castle-2962584
