[quote=cain129;2704423] The best idea so far is the C-can in the ground. 8' x 8' x 20'. Not the 40 footer. Plenty to do what you want. 20 footers cost about 3,500USD.
you could bury one an easy 4ft from the surface without any structural issues. Just dig, place, and backfill. You can run all the utilities after it is in place.quote]

I'm looking at shipping containers, the ones they stack up on ships and send overseas. Is that the same thing you are talking about? I want the whole 40 footer, front third will be storm shelter. I can get a used one delivered for 2700.
I believe it would be wise to brace up the ceiling, wet clay soil weighs a BUNCH...

Yes that is what I am talking about. They are made to stack 6 high on Transports fully loaded at full capacity of 65,000 lbs per 40' container. Most of that load is distributed through the frame - ie up rights and horizontal corner beams.

You can get a simple geotechnical report on the area it will be buried, first step in any civil works, and determine the static load on the ceiling.

When we use them as bunkers we stack 3 layers of sand bags on top with no reinforcement and they are tested to withstand 120mm round with a 500mm standoff - a simple sheetmetal roof to initiate detonation for energy consumption.

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a simple corrugated sheet metal roof

Yes, and no. I've seen them designed for Mogadishu with 20mm steel plating. Also it depends on the local market when construction actually begins.

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