GEODESIC DOMES

What is a Geodesic Dome?

A dome constructed of short struts following

lines and forming an open framework of
or polygons.

geodesic
triangles

Geodesic is a latin word meaning earth

dividing

Used in

Building Roofing (Gymnasium, Planetariums, etc.)

Green Houses

Swimming Pool Covers

Museums

Residential Houses

Construction Process

Installment and dismantling takes a few hours/time.

It can be made with timber/wood, aluminum tubing, steel tubing.

Lightweight structure.

It does not require special tools or machinery.

Not needing heavy foundations nor traditional construction site preparation.

Requirement Equipment & Specialized Labor

It can be built with different materials such as wood, concrete, aluminum, steel or
even canvas.

Construction companies, Engineers, and Architects are able to market, massproduce, and customize domes for clients.

RAW MATERIALS

Construction materials vary widely. Simple, movable structures may be built of

polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe or galvanized steel conduit frames covered with
plastic sheeting or parachute canopies.

Large, permanent structures like arenas and factories have been built from
materials like aluminum and steel frame struts covered with aluminum, copper,
structural gypsum, acrylic, or Plexiglas panels.

EQUIPMENTS
Cutting

Cutoff Saw
Mitre Saw
Radial Arm Saw
Horizontal Band Saw
Vertical Band Saw
Worm Saw

Flattening

Vise
Hammer
Hand Sledge Hammer
Hydraulic press

Bending

Hydraulic Press
Pipe Bender
Rotary Pipe Bender

PERFORMANCE OF GEODESIC DOME

Types of load
HORIZONTAL LOAD

The latitudinal bands transmit the force created by the wind around each side of
the structure. The force is dissipated as it travel through.

VERTICAL LOAD

DISASTER RESISTANT

geodesic domes are aerodynamic, eliminate roof and truss structures and are
made of high-performance green materials designed to withstand considerable
wind loads from severe storms like tornados, hurricanes and typhoons.

In addition, due to their high structural integrity, they perform extremely well in
such natural disasters as earthquakes, floods and severe wind storms.

Finally, some of them are made of high performance, non-combustible, green

materials that are tested and proven to be fire-proof, insect-proof and mold
resistant.

LIFE CYCLE

Geodesic domes are designed to last centuries rather than decades. This kind of
structures have no wood components making them immune to rot, termites and
degradation from moisture.

One of the main building materials is use in dome was made of magnesium oxide
that can be found in such structures as The Great Wall of China. Geodesic domes
have a strong resistance to high winds, flood waters, seismic activity and fires
making them perfect as permanent residential dwellings in coastal environments
and disaster prone areas.

DISADVANTAGE

furnishings can be problematic. Couches, tables and beds are all made to sit flush
against flat walls. Put them in a sphere and not only do they look out of place, but
they also waste much of the wonderful extra space that spheres impart.

Waterproofing is another hurdle. Flat roofs are easy to shingle so that they shed
rain. But the many triangles and seams in a dome home are another matter
altogether. Water intrusion has spelled the end of many a rounded home.

Interior curved walls are major challenges when it comes to construction

contractors. Everything from insulation, to plumbing, and electrical conduits must
be carefully reconsidered in a round home, and because standard construction
materials are made for rectangular homes, dome components are generally more
expensive. Whats more, some contractors refuse to even work on domes because
the frustrations and costs are too high, and profits too low.

ADVANTAGE

Economics: Lower initial cost.

A dome is the geometric shape that encloses the largest amount of volume with
the least amount of surface area. This generates a greater saving of building

material to enclose usable space or work area than any other structure with a
different form.

Control of external and internal temperature. Airflows

Since their discovery, geodesic domes have been one of the safest havens in
areas with the most extreme and violent climates on the planet, since exposure to
cold in winter and heat in summer is reduced.

The temperature transmission is a direct factor between the exposed surface or

area of the outer wall. A dome, being spherical, has less coated surface area per
unit of internal volume, thus reducing the temperature gain or loss.

The interior shape causes either hot or cold air flows to occur that can be used to
control the internal temperature, stabilize it and make it uniform, thereby
eliminating potential cold spots. Due to this shape, it acts as a giant reflector
towards the bottom part, reflecting and concentrating the heat on the inside,
preventing further radial heat loss.

Safe construction, stable, strong and solid.

Due to its shape, the geodesic dome is a stable construction as the pressure
applied on it is distributed (to a certain degree) around the entire structure.
Being comprised of triangles, we can say it has a unique stability, since the
triangle is the only polygon that keeps its shape by nature. This gives the dome a
unique stability. The triangles interconnect so that their sides form a Geodesic
network of "great circles" (which are formed, in turn, by rows), that provide
consistency and strength to the whole building.
The domes have an even distribution of weight on the ground plane through the
bottom ring and a low centre of gravity, which gives it a great advantage over
other structures when facing earthquakes.

Weight and Strength

Due to its high strength to weight ratio, when we talk about geodesic domes, we
are talking about incredibly lightweight structures.

Quick assembly time compared with traditional constructions

Weeks, days and even hours can be the time taken to build a geodesic dome,
depending on the complexity. There is also the possibility in some instances to
disassemble and reassemble.

Environmental Impact

Geodesic Domes are highly resistant to natural disasters such as

flooding, earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes. They are resistant to rust, mold,
water, bug's and fire. Geodesic Domes offer 100% non-toxic, breathable
materials that provide good thermal insulation and indoor air quality.

Geodesic design have their way, that's exactly what these domes eventually will
do. As the push for sustainable living continues and our population burgeons,
domes may offer affordable and smart ways to house humans.

Sustainable Domes

-Sustainable Domes materials are fabricated from abundant resources found in

nature and require far less processing and long-term maintenance than traditional
building materials.

Benefits of a Sustainable Dome

Longer Life Cycle than Conventional Homes

Minimal Long Term Maintenance

Highly Energy Efficient

Low Environmental Impact

A Healthy Home with High Indoor Air Quality

On-site Production of Organic Food

Affordable Green Housing

Disaster Resistance
Reduced Construction Waste
Rapid Assembly On-Site
Built with 100% Non-toxic Materials
High Resistance to Fire, Moisture, Mold and Insects

Versatility/Flexibility

Geodesic domes are suited for a number of infrastructural developments under the
sun. Although Bucky set out with a vision of improving the housing conditions of
humanity, he did not limit people to using geodesic domes as homes. In fact, he
played a major role in designing Spaceship Earth, the dark ride at Epcot in
Disneyland. Leading by example, the father of geodesic domes certainly made it
clear that geodesic domes can be used for a number of purposes. The following are
some of the uses of the versatile geodesic domes.

Residential Dwellings
-Geodesic domes can be used as homes. There are a number of people who
comfortably live in geodesic dome homes. Geodesic domes used as homes have
numerous advantages over conventional dwellings such as affordability, energy
efficiency and sustainability.
Green Houses
-Geodesic domes can be used as green houses. Geodesic domes are ideal as green
houses because of their energy efficiency, their resistance to parasites and their
strength which protects the plants in the green houses from damage from
environmental factors. The Eden Project in Cornwall, United Kingdom epitomizes
the use of geodesic domes as green houses.
Emergency Shelters
-Geodesic domes are ideal emergency shelters. This is because of the ease of
putting up and bringing down a geodesic dome. They require minimal labor hours
and effort and therefore can easily be set up during emergency situations. They
are also resilient in the face of natural disasters such as tornados, earthquakes and
typhoons due to their structural integrity and tremendous strength. They are
therefore the best emergency shelters in disaster prone geographical regions and
the coastal strips.
Indoor Sports
-There are those times when indoor sports are the only thing you can think of.
Unfortunately, most people live in cramped houses with little room to maneuver
and have fun with friends and family. Geodesic domes are able to enclose the
maximum amount of space with the minimum amount of materials. They are
therefore very ideal as locations for indoor sporting events especially those that
require body movement such as table tennis.
Event Venues
-Instead of opting to spend huge amounts of money on contemporary buildings to
host events, you can settle for large geodesic domes. They not only promise
spaciousness but also have the aesthetic appeal that will definitely impress your
guests. Geodesic domes can be used as venues for events such as weddings,
corporate gigs, trade shows and exhibitions.

Availability

Geodesic domes (and the homes based on those designs) are extremely efficient
and inexpensive. Those traits, when considered in the context of today's economic
and environmental issues, mean domes are enjoying the kind of popularity not
seen since their heyday in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Many communities
throughout the world boast geodesic domes, either as homes or as commercial
structures
constructing a Geodesic Dome, we are not buying and installing expensive
materials for the purpose of supporting other expensive materials! A dome is selfsupporting! The Geodesic Dome has 38% less surface area than a rectilinear
structure of the same
square footage and about that savings in materials as well, if the claims are
accurate.