Feasibility of Structural Foam/Concrete Building for Theater of Operations Use.

This study was preformed to assess the feasibility of using performed polystyrene foam building blocks to construct shelters in noncombative areas of the Theater of Operations TO. A structure in which the principal wall material was polystyrene foam blocks was designed, constructed, and evaluated on the basis of logistics requirements, manpower time, required skill levels, and costs. It was concluded that the polystyrene foam block building required less than half the man-hours and slightly lower skill levels than were necessary to erect a similar-sized Army Facilities Components System timber building. However, the foam block building has a 75 percent greater shipping volume in the expanded form, and a 300 percent greater materials cost. Based on the conclusions, it is recommended that the foam block system be used in the TO only if the expansion and molding equipment is established within the area of planned usage. Author