GEODESIC DOME

(BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 5)

Spaceship Earth at Epcot, Walt Disney World

- A geodesic sphere

A geodesic dome is a
spherical or partial-spherical
shell structure or lattice shell
based on a network of great
circles (geodesics) on the
surface of a sphere. The
geodesics intersect to form
triangular elements that have
local triangular rigidity and also
distribute the stress across the
structure. When completed to
form a complete sphere, it is a
geodesic sphere. A dome is
enclosed, unlike open
geodesic structures such as
playground climbers.

Typically a geodesic dome design begins

with an icosahedron inscribed in a
hypothetical sphere, tiling each triangular
face with smaller triangles, then projecting
the vertices of each tile to the sphere. The
endpoints of the links of the completed
sphere are the projected endpoints on the
sphere's surface. If this is done exactly, subtriangle edge lengths take on many different
values, requiring links of many sizes. To
minimize this, simplifications are made. The
result is a compromise of triangles with their
vertices lying approximately on the sphere.
The edges of the triangles form approximate
geodesic paths over the surface of the dome.

Geodesic designs can be used to form any

curved, enclosed space. Standard designs
tend to be used because unusual
configurations may require complex,
expensive custom design of each strut,
vertex and panel.

Icosahedron

HISTORY
The

first dome that could be

called "geodesic" in every
respect was designed after
World War I by Walther
Bauersfeld, chief engineer of
the Carl Zeiss optical
company, for a planetarium
to house his planetarium
projector. The dome was
patented, constructed by the
firm of Dykerhoff and
Wydmann on the roof of the
Zeiss plant in Jena,
Germany, and opened to the
public in July 1926.

Walther

Bauersfeld (23
January 1879 in
Berlin 28 October
1959 in
Heidenheim an der
Brenz)

The Zeiss-Planetarium in
Jena, Germany is the
oldest continuously
operating planetarium in
the world. It was opened
on July 18, 1926. The
Zeiss-Planetarium is a
projection planetarium.
The planets and fixed
stars are projected onto
the inner surface of a
white cupola.
Zeiss-Planetarium in Jen

Some 20 years later, R. Buckminster Fuller named the dome "geodesic"

from field experiments with artist Kenneth Snelson at Black Mountain College in
1948 and 1949. Snelson and Fuller worked developing what they termed "
tensegrity," an engineering principle of continuous tension and discontinuous
compression that allowed domes to deploy a lightweight lattice of interlocking
icosahedrons that could be skinned with a protective cover. Although Fuller was
not the original inventor, he developed the intrinsic mathematics of the dome,
thereby allowing popularization of the idea for which he received U.S. patent
2,682,235 29 June 1954.
The geodesic dome appealed to Fuller because it was extremely strong for
its weight, its "omnitriangulated" surface provided an inherently stable structure,
and because a sphere encloses the greatest volume for the least surface area.
The dome was successfully adopted for specialized uses, such as the 21
Distant Early Warning Line domes built in Canada in 1956, the 1958
Union Tank Car Company dome near Baton Rouge, Louisiana designed by
Thomas C. Howard of Synergetics, Inc. and specialty buildings like the
Kaiser Aluminum domes (constructed in numerous locations across the US,
e.g., Virginia Beach, VA), auditoriums, weather observatories, and storage
facilities. The dome was soon breaking records for covered surface, enclosed
volume, and construction speed.

METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION

Wooden domes have a hole

drilled in the width of a strut. A
stainless steel band locks the
strut's hole to a steel pipe. With
this method, the struts may be
cut to the exact length needed.
Triangles of exterior plywood
are then nailed to the struts. The
dome is wrapped from the
bottom to the top with several
stapled layers of tar paper, in
order to shed water, and
finished with shingles. This type
of dome is often called a huband-strut dome because of the
use of steel hubs to tie the struts
together.

Panelized domes are constructed of

separately-framed timbers covered in
plywood. The three members
comprising the triangular frame are
often cut at compound angles in order
to provide for a flat fitting of the various
triangles. Holes are drilled through the
members at precise locations and
steel bolts then connect the triangles
to form the dome. These members are
often 2x4's or 2x6's, which allow for
more insulation to fit within the triangle.
The panelized technique allows the
builder to attach the plywood skin to
the triangles while safely working on
the ground or in a comfortable shop
out of the weather.

Construction details of a permanently installed tent-type Charter-Sphere dome

designed by Synergetics. Inc. non- geodesic.
Temporary greenhouse domes have been constructed by stapling plastic sheeting onto
a dome constructed from one-inch square beams. The result is warm, movable by
hand in sizes less than 20 feet, and cheap. It should be staked to the ground to
prevent it being moved by wind.

Steel-framework domes can be easily constructed of electrical conduit. One flattens

the end of a strut and drills bolt holes at the needed length. A single bolt secures a
vertex of struts. The nuts are usually set with removable locking compound, or if the
dome is portable, have a castle nut with a cotter pin. This is the standard way to
construct domes for jungle-gyms.

Concrete

and foam plastic

domes generally start with a
steel framework dome, wrapped
with chicken wire and wire
screen for reinforcement. The
chicken wire and screen is tied
to the framework with wire ties.
A coat of material is then
sprayed or molded onto the
frame. Tests should be
performed with small squares to
achieve the correct consistency
of concrete or plastic. Generally,
several coats are necessary on
the inside and outside. The last
step is to saturate concrete or
polyester domes with a thin
layer of epoxy compound to
shed water.

Some concrete domes have been

constructed from prefabricated,
prestressed, steel-reinforced concrete
panels that can be bolted into place. The
bolts are within raised receptacles covered
with little concrete caps to shed water. The
triangles overlap to shed water. The
triangles in this method can be molded in
forms patterned in sand with wooden
patterns, but the concrete triangles are
usually so heavy that they must be placed
with a crane. This construction is wellsuited to domes because there is no place
for water to pool on the concrete and leak
through. The metal fasteners, joints and
internal steel frames remain dry, preventing
frost and corrosion damage. The concrete
resists sun and weathering. Some form of
internal flashing or caulking must be placed
over the joints to prevent drafts. The 1963
Cinerama Dome was built from
precast concrete hexagons and pentagons.

Dome homes

Fuller hoped that the geodesic

dome would help address the
postwar housing crisis. This
was consistent with his prior
hopes for both versions of the
Dymaxion House.

Residential geodesic domes

have been less successful than
those used for working and/or
entertainment, largely because
of their complexity and
consequent greater
construction costs. Fuller
himself lived in a geodesic
dome in Carbondale, Illinois, at
the corner of Forest and Cherry.

ADVANTAGES

is the rounded inside.

The curvature of the dome actually makes the frame
stronger because all of the struts share the structural load

economy of materials
they require less materials to cover a given space.

saving in structural materials, geodesic domes require no

internal columns for support

Self supporting structure

they are excellent choices for structures where

unobstructed interior space is needed such as exhibit
halls and sports arenas

they have superior weight-to-strength ratios

DISADVANTAGES
They

have a very large number of edges in comparison with more

conventional structures which have just a few large flat surfaces
spaces enclosed within curved boundaries tend to be less usable
than spaces enclosed within flat boundaries
The dome's shape can create problems in placing sewer vents
and chimneys.
Fire escapes are expensive and a must for large buildings like
this.
Moisture in the dome are usually not heard of and therefore if any
enters, the dome quickly dissolves (figuratively).
Sounds, smells, and lights can be seen throughout the entire
structure due to lack of privacy.
Wall areas are difficult to use due to the shape.
It is hard to seal the domes against rain.

Fukuoka Yahoo! JAPAN Dome, Ch-ku, Fukuoka, Japan

Nagoya Dome, Nagoya, Japan

Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington