GEODESIC STRUCTURE

BUILDING TECNOLOGY 05
GROUP 13
 GEODESIC STRUCTURE
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 05

CONTENTS:
- INTRODUCTION
- HISTORY OF GEODESIC STRUCTURE
- CLASSIFICATIONS
- MATERIALS TO BE USED IN CONSTRUCTION
- ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
- EXAMPLE IN ARCHITECTURE
 GEODESIC STRUCTURE
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 05

INTRODUCTION
• A geodesic dome is a thin shelled arrangements made
out of triangles connected together to form a true sphere.
• The triangles are architecturally firm and distribute the
stress throughout the dome, allowing the structure to bear
heavy loads for their size. • Space frame is the three
dimensional framework that makes the dome stabled. •
The triangles are put as hexagons and pentagons to
eventually form the dome.
 GEODESIC STRUCTURE
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 05

HISTORY
• In the year 1919, Walter Bauersfelt who is fromGermany
has decided to base a moveable projectors within a still
dome. • The first model ever made was more that half a
sphere but Walter Bauersfeld has fixed the issue of how to
make a really huge sphere by approximating it. • After 30
years, an American architect R. Buckminster Fuller has
invented a similar idea but the difference is that he
designed it to be affordable and efficient that can be made
fast. It was R. Buckminster Fuller who called it a geodesic
dome.
 GEODESIC STRUCTURE
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 05

HISTORY
• The geodesic dome is the strongest, lightest and most
cost-effective building that was ever made because it’s
ability to cover space without any interior supports “such
as columns” that usually cover up space in an interior. Not
only is it cost effective but it is also easy to construct.
GEODESIC STRUCTURE
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 05

HISTORY
In the year 1957, in Honolulu Hawaii, a geodesic dome was built
so quickly it only took them 22 hours after all the parts/materials
were delivered. Nowadays there is over 300,000 domes around
the world • R. Buckminster Fuller’s first world acceptance by the
architectural community happened in the year 1954 where his
cardboard dome was exhibited for the very first time. His
cardboard dome was presented in the Milan triennale where they
stage international exhibitions all over the world to show their
most advanced and groundbreaking accomplishments in the field
of design, architecture..etc
 GEODESIC STRUCTURE
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 05

CLASSIFICATION
The classification of the geodesic dome is made according to the
main polyhedron, according to the number and the type of the
sub-divisions, the “latitude” where the geodesic sphere is cut in
order to obtain the dome. According to the type of triangulation of
the main polyhedron, the geodesic domes are divided into classes:
-CLASS I parallel division to the side ; -CLASS II perpendicular
division on the side ; -CLASS III any other type of possible
triangulation. The number of the segments into which is divided
each line of the main polygon during the triangulation process is
called frequency
 GEODESIC STRUCTURE
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 05

CLASSIFICATION
 GEODESIC STRUCTURE
DOME BUILDING METHODS

- HUB AND STRUT

MATERIALS TO BE USED IN CONSTRUCTION

MATERIALS TO BE USED IN CONSTRUCTION

ADVANTAGES
• Geodesic dome is a stable and easy construction which
is very strong. they are ideal for almost any type of spaces
• The even distribution of weight throughout the structure
makes it stable during earthquakes and similar hazards
• Geodesic domes have an aerodynamic shape which
protects them against strong wind or storms.
• Domes being spherical has less surface area per unit of
internal volume, reducing the interior temperature and
heat gain and enables uniform air flow.
 GEODESIC STRUCTURE
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 05

ADVANTAGES
• This type of domes can be very large in size with less
surface area, meaning less materials are required, hence
lowering costs.
• Very quick and easy assembly, making them less labor
intensive
• This type of domes are famous for their vast usage in
sustainable projects, because the materials required are all
environment friendly and the structure itself is very safe
and creates healthy interior.
 GEODESIC STRUCTURE
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 05

DISADVANTAGES
• The unusable space inside of a geodesic dome.
• Windows and doors: using a normal door in a geodesic
sphere can cause a problem, you’d have to custom make
all doors and windows needed.
• The building’s permit can also be a problem as drainage
and fire escapes can be an issue and they need to meet
code requirements
 GEODESIC STRUCTURE
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 05

DISADVANTAGES
• The financing and rescale .
• Building a geodesic dome needs very skilled labors.
• Strong wind will cause separation between the materials
between the nozzle and the point of deposit.
• Geodesic knowledge is greatly required for such
building.
 GEODESIC STRUCTURE
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 05

ARCHITECTURAL EXAMPLES
1. BIOSPHERE Constructed in 1947 for world expo. Largest geodesic dome in
the world. Located in Canada, the only museum dedicated to Water.
 GEODESIC STRUCTURE
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 05

ARCHITECTURAL EXAMPLES
2. DISNEY’S EPCOT CENTER . Constructed based on Fuller’s plan for a temperature
controlled dome . It is a theme park + greenhouse containing over 1500 species of
plants. Located in Florida
 GEODESIC STRUCTURE
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 05

ARCHITECTURAL EXAMPLES
3. DAPITAN CITY, Philippines – (UPDATE) In preparation for disasters, an initial 200
monolithic dome houses – believed to be disaster-resilient – will be built at a relocation
site in Dapitan.
 GEODESIC STRUCTURE
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 05

ARCHITECTURAL EXAMPLES
3. DAPITAN CITY, Philippines – (UPDATE) In preparation for disasters, an initial 200
monolithic dome houses – believed to be disaster-resilient – will be built at a relocation
site in Dapitan.