Grow Your Own Buildings

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In Wolf Hilbertz's case, though, such resistance seems to be finally crumbling. Early last summer, after several patrons had taken up his projects and let them down with a thud, Wolf finally concluded that he'd have to sell what he'd been trying—so unsuccessfully—to give away. He discovered that publishing his ideas hadn't made them public property, so—after applying for patents—he incorporated as the Marine Resources Company and soon found a group of Texas businessmen who were willing to back him.

Besides getting a chance to gather data more rapidly, the architect is now able to travel around the world and discuss ideas with people who are in positions to provide him with valuable feedback. He's just returned from Germany, where a consortium is being formed to commercialize underwater building growing. He's also convinced New York University to duplicate his experiments in Long Island Sound, to collect yet more data.

The invested money has allowed Wolf to broaden the base of his experiments, too. Observing his own underwater construction, he began to contemplate more conventional below-the-ocean structures . . . those made of reinforced concrete in particular.

Traditionally, such creations have steel "bracing", which often corrodes. When that happens, gases are given off that compress inside the structures and cause them to fracture. Wolf wondered what would happen if the steel were electrified. To find out, he built several experimental reinforced concrete pilings and subjected them to sufficient compression to cause fractures and to expose the reinforcing. Then he placed the pilings underwater, and allowed the steel to begin to rust.

Predictably, the gases did accumulate and the concrete cracked farther. After the damage became critical, Wolf connected his wires, turned on the current, and allowed electrolysis to "heal" the fractures with accretion. When the professor again subjected the pilings to compression, he found that they were actually stronger than they'd been at the outset. Such research suggests an inexpensive, efficient way to strengthen the bridge supports that cross many of our world's bays and harbors. The same process can also be used to "plate" the wooden or steel pilings of piers and other marine structures . . . such as oil rigs.

The oceanographer Athelstan Spilhaus, long an enthusiastic Wolf Hilbertz booster, believes that such repairing and reinforcing work alone—though unspectacular—could become the backbone of Wolf's new business ... and that the process that began as a sideline could earn millions!

But even though the professor's operation is rapidly moving into a "big business" classification, Wolf says he'll be happy to share his knowledge and experience with MOTHER's readers. And here's how he suggests you find out exactly how the process works.

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