[Domesteading 00299] Re: Fw: books dome math, strength and waste utilization trackbender

[rowley]

Dan Goldman wrote:

> 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.

Amen to that.

And one of the neat things about randomes is that you don't have to have 20 of a thing exactly the same size & 
shape.

^~    ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~
Oo
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>  -------Original Message-------
>  From: J & D Goldman <jmgoldma at dwx.com>
>  Subject: Re: [Domesteading 00294] Re: Fw: books  dome math, strength and waste utilization trackbender
>  Sent: 2008-03-25 19:35
>  
>  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.