Abstract: A building structure and method provides a cast floor supported on columns, the floor including a bottom surface having a dome-shaped region supported by at least three of the columns, the floor having a thickness that gradually increases in all directions outwardly from a crown in the dome-shaped region. The floor is reinforced by post-tensioning members that sag from near a top surface at polygonal cell region boundaries, the corners of which are at the columns supporting the dome-shaped region, to near the bottom surface for compressively stressing the cast material and upwardly biasing the floor. The floor is economically constructred using modern fly-form modules equipped with dome-shaped formwork.

Abstract: A machine for testing the strength of a specimen of a selected material, including spaced platens between which the specimen is confined during application of force thereto, with lamina packs being provided between the platens and specimen for transmitting force therebetween, and with each lamina pack consisting of a plurality of plates having interengaging highly polished surfaces facilitating differential lateral expansion or contraction of the plates in a manner permitting free lateral expansion or contraction of the specimen surface contacted by the lamina pack, and thereby avoiding introduction of substantial restraint to such expansion or contraction by the platens.