Honeycomb Roof Structure v2
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You are actually re-inventing steel framework, a thing that is documented to extent in structural engineering courses....but in plastic.
I love the experiments on the joints.
A little question: Why use that expensive PU foam and not the cheap version all contractors use for insulation?Do you really need high density foam?
I can imagine the normal PU insulation foam is as powerful (and weighs less).The best way to experiment how the structure performs under influence of gravity would be setting up a tunnel model :
I don't think a little deformation by pressure of the foam should be a problem...On the contrary, it can be an advantage as the structure would gain dynamics to respond to changing variables as wind pressure,snow, temperature variations etc...
[EDIT]: I just noticed that your structure will only be as strong as the plastic straps that hold the pieces to the joints. The strength of the joints is the key to success here imo.
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I vote Fred calls himself "Bucky" from now on.
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Kwist,
Thanks again for the feedback.
Plastic is cheap... make that "inexpensive"... so it's much more viable for the home crackpot inventor. All the materials I've used for these experiments have cost less than $200.
Regarding the PU foam. The structure I built using low-density foam had virtually no integrity under load. Since I'm interested in a roof structure that would need to hold quite a bit of load the only way forward, using these materials, is to use higher-density foam.
The wire ties ARE the weak links in the structure. However, there are a lot of options in wire ties. Take a look at this site (http://www.buycableties.com/). There are even stainless steel versions.
@unknownuser said:
You are actually re-inventing steel framework, a thing that is documented to extent in structural engineering courses....but in plastic.
Stinkie... so plastic + bucky ... could be shortened to "plucky".
Fred
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Good stuff fred, i look forward to the day when i see a house with your roof on it
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Pluckminster Fuller it is!
Keep at it, Fred. I'm a Miesian grid person myself, but I truly welcome experiments. Cream in the coffee, you know.
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Good example Stinkie!
Buckminster fuller was DA big example to follow in this matter. -
Fred, this reminds me the architecture of Shigeru Ban. He makes astonishing structures with recycled cardboard tubes combined in a similar way as you do. I hope this can inspire you.
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Matteo,
Thanks for sharing the Shigeru Ban links and image. I like his work a lot, although not so much the more rigidly geometric shapes. My favorite Japanese architect is Toyo Ito.
I like how Ito combines curved and rectilinear shapes. As a middle child I'm always looking to find the middle ground between extreme positions, in this case the blobbists and the Miesians, and this is territory Ito has been exploring for years.
Ideally, I'd like to be able to obtain viable roofing structures similar to the one in the following image (another Ito building) using mostly PVC and Polyurethane foam. It's a long shot but that's what I'm aiming for.
Fred
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Latest Plucky Adventures...
The wood half-rounds and balls I ordered from these folks (http://www.craftparts.com/) arrived, as did some 17" heavy-duty cable ties. I put together two hubs and an edge section last night and it looks/feels pretty good. I hope to do some additional work with the pieces this weekend.
As I've been working with this stuff I keep thinking that a similar structural system could be implemented using bamboo in place of the PVC, and hemp rope in place of the plastic wire ties. This would give you a completely organic structural system, using materials that would require only simple and low-energy processing and that are locally available (growable) in most of the world. Interesting.
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