[Domesteading 00298] Re: Fw: books dome math, strength and waste utilization trackbender

[J & D Goldman]

My 2 cents worth on a few issues:

I see the dome math useful for at least 2 things

- dimensions, of course for one - how big to make things and how to
make components so they fit.
- that strength issue - how to build for adequate or superior
strength, where failure might occur and how to avoid that.
  Without the math, trial, error and intuition will get your structure
up, time and storms will tell you what stays up and what doesn't.

A few other thoughts -
  I don't know what is abundant in Africa, but one of the great things
about domes is how you can build large stable structures from parts
that are too small to be effectively used for other types of
buildings.  This also allows one to use "waste" from other processes
to make full size structures.  Find a place where things are dumped
(any junkyards there?) and look for large batches of materials that
might be just what you need.  Maybe a factory that cuts things has a
dump yard for trim, and leaves many pieces in the 2-3 foot range which
provides strut material.
  Also, don't take materials at only their face value, keep conversion
in mind.  Even a piece of thin paper can be rolled up into a very
strong tube, and it takes very little strength in a ring over the
ends/middle to keep it rolled up.  Likewise, a weak material like
cardboard can stand an immense amount of weight once folded into a
zigzag and layed on its side.  Understanding the physics of structural
strength can be a big help when you are faced with a "primative"
situation (e.g. a tensigrity structure serving as a bridge.)

Thus, I agree with the earlier comments - of course you need something
for materials, but the methods are what makes their use possible and
even efficient. If all you have is lemons, make lemonade.

I don't know if this is already obvious, but thought I'd jot that down
in case it might help someone.

Here is another lead that might be of interest to the group:
http://www.radiustrack.com/track_bender.asp   hand tool to make
straight steel studs into arches.  Once can start the whole process
with flat sheets if you also have a bender to make the C channel.

regards - Dan G.

-----Original Message-----
From: Sal Cerda <sal.cerda at rocketmail.com>
To: rowley <rowley at looknfeel.com>; A forum for the discussion of
aspects of independent,off-the-grid living
<domesteading at sculptors.com>
Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:13 PM
Subject: [Domesteading 00294] Re: Fw: books


>>
>
>I've always found slide rules sort of counter-Inuitive, myself. But
that's just
> me. Perhaps in a slippery medium like ice,
>a slide rules?
> <
>a slide rules? Oh.  Ouch. This punishment is making my brain mush.
>:-)
>
>On a more serious note, has anyone constructed a house using the
randome?  I've seen the models, but have no idea how strong the
resultant dome might be.
>
>
>
>---------------------------------
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