4/2/2017 PatentUS4068422RoofingfordomicalshellstructureGooglePatents

Roofingfordomicalshell
structure
US4068422A

ABSTRACT

Thisdisclosuredescribesanimprovedconceptforusingflatsheathingmaterialstoconstructthecurvedroofofadomical
structurewiththeunderlyingdomeframeandtheshapeoftheroofpanelsdesignedtopermitoriginallyflatsheathing
materialtobecurvedindifferentdirections.Thus,asingleflatsheetofsheathingmaterialmaycontainseveraldifferent
curvedsurfaces,improvingtheappearanceandtheshelleffectoftheroofandincreasingthestrengthandeconomic
efficiencyofthedomicalstructure.

IMAGES (6)

DESCRIPTION CLAIMS (10)

Thisapplicationisacontinuationin Whatisclaimedis:
partofU.S.Pat.applicationSer.No.
1.Adomicalstructurecomprising:
544,766,filed1/28/75,now
abandoned. apluraklityofbases,

BACKGROUNDOFTHE
INVENTION
Thisinventionrelatestothe
constructionofdomicalstructuresand
moreparticularlytoasimple,integral
assemblyofapluralityofroof
surfacesformedfromoriginallyflat
sheathingmaterialstoformthecurved
domicalroofconfiguration.Inorderto
accomplishthis,thearchframework
ofthedomemustprovidesupportfor
theedgesofthecurvedroofpanels.It
maybeconvenientattimestouse
straightsupportivestrutsdesignedto
underlietheroofpanelsespecially
alongbendzoneswhereanoriginally
flatpanelchangescurvaturefroma
curveinonedirectiontoaflatportion
oracurveinanotherdirection.
afirstpluralityofarcuatelyshapedbeamseachcarriedonatleastoneend
byadifferentoneofsaidbasesandextendingtherefrominasubstantially
verticalplane,
afirstmeansforconnectingsaidfirstbeamsattheapexofsaidstructure,
apluralityofarcuatelyshapededgebeamssupportedonadjacentbasesand
extendingupwardlyandoutwardlytherebetweentodefinetheperimeterof
saidstructure,
asecondpluralityofarcuatelyshapedbeamscarriedonatleastoneendby
oneofsaidedgebeamsandattheirotherendsbysaidfirstmeansatthe
apexofsaidstructure,
saidsecondpluralityofarcuatelyshapedbeamsbeingspacedaroundthe
domicalstructurebetweeneachofsaidfirstpluralityofarcuatelyshaped
beams,
saidfirstandsecondpluralityofbeamsandsaidpluralityofedgebeams
beingarcsofgreatcirclesandformingastructuralframeworkdefining
sphericaltriangularopenings,

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Theshellactionofthecurved
sheathingsurfacelendsadditional
strengthtotheoveralldomical
structure,allowingtheunderlying
archestobelighterinweightthan
supportivemembersforflatsurfaces.
Thegreaterstructuralstrengthofthe
disclosedshellconfigurationpermitsit
toespeciallyalongbendzoneswhere
anoriginallyflatpanelchanges
curvaturefromacurveinonedirection
toaflatportionoracurveinanother
direction.
Theshellactionofthecurved
sheathingsurfaceleadsadditional
strengthtotheoveralldomical
structure,allowingtheunderlying
archestobelighterinweightthan
supportivemembersforflatsurfaces.
Thegreaterstructuralstrengthofthe
disclosedshellconfigurationpermitsit
tobeusedforclearspanconstruction
withouttheneedforbearingwalls,
althoughconventionalverticalwalls
canbereadilyusedwiththedisclosed
shellstructure,ifsodesired.
FIELDOFTHEINVENTION
Thisinventionusestheprinciplesof
sphericaltrigonometryanddifferential
geometrytosolvetheproblem
inherentintheproperdesignand
layoutfordomicalstructures.
Conceptsareparticularlydirected
towardtheconstructionalfeaturesof
domicalstructureswhereintheframe
ofthedomeiscomprisedof
interconnectedgreatcirclearches.
Theoriginallyflatroofpanelsare
designedtoexactlycoveropenings
betweenarches.Straightstrutsmay
crossthecurvedtriangularopening
betweenarcheswiththesestruts
optimallypositionedtoliealongthe
lineofchangingradiusofcurvature
(bendzones)ofthesheathingpanels.
DESCRIPTIONOFTHEPRIOR
ART
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saidsphericaltriangularopeningseachhavingacornerofsaidtrianglesat
theapexofsaiddomicalstructure,and
adomicallyshapedcoveringforthestructurecomprisingapluralityof
originallyflatpanelseachofacurvedtriangularconfigurationtheedgesof
whichlieonthearcuatebeamsofsaidframeworkinedgetoedgeassembly
aroundsaidstructureandeachpanelcoveringoneofsaidcurvedtriangular
openingsformedtogetheradomelikeouterconfiguration,
eachofsaidpanelsbeingformedbythreecurvedsubstantiallyisosceles
trianglesformedinthecornersofeachsphericaltriangularopeningtogether
withaninterconnectingplanetriangle.
2.Thedomicalstructuresetforthinclaim1wherein:
saidsphericaltriangularopeningsareoftwodifferenttriangular
configurations.
3.Adomicalstructurehavinganapexandsupportableonthreespacedbases
comprising:
afirstpluralityofarcuatelyshapedbeamseachcarriedononeendbya
differentoneofthebases,
afirstmeansforconnectingsaidfirstbeamsattheapexofsaidstructure,
apluralityofarcuatelyshapededgebeamsextendingupwardandoutward
formingtheperimeterofsaidstructure,
asecondpluralityofarcutelyshapedbeamseachcarriedonatleastone
endbyoneofsaidedgebeamsandsecuredattheirotherendsbysaidfirst
meansattheapexofsaidstructure,
saidsecondpluralityofarcuatelyshapedbeamsbeingspacedaroundthe
domicalstructurebetweeneachofsaidfirstpluralityofarcuatelyshaped
beams,
saidfirstandsecondpluralityofbeamsandsaidpluralityofedgebeams
formingastructuralframeworkdefiningcurvedtriangularopenings,
adomicallyshapedroofcoveringforsaiddomicalstructure,
saidroofcoveringcomprisingapluralityofsinglycurvedtriangularpanels,
eachofsaidpanelshavingacommoncornerthereofattheapexofthe
structureandacommonedgebetweenadjacentpanels,
theedgesofeachpanellyingonanarcuatebeamofsaidframeworksothat
thepanelscovertheentireareaformedbytheframework,and
meansforconnectingjuxtapositionededgesofsaidpanelstogethertoform
saiddomicallyshapedroofcovering.
4.Theroofsetforthinclaim3wherein:
thejuxtapositionededgesofsaidsinglycurvedtrianglesurfaces
areconnectedtogethertoformadomicalconfigurationeach
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Therehavebeenmanyprevious substantiallycoveringadifferentoneofsaidcurvedtriangular
attemptsatsolvingtheproblemof openings.
efficientlycoveringadomewithan
5.Thedomicalstructuresetforthinclaim3infurthercombinationwith:
originallyflatsurface.FrenchPat.No.
1,562,266portraysaflattopped,three apluralityofbasesoneforsupportingeachofsaidfirstpluralityof
leggedstructureusinganoriginallyflat arcuatelyshapedbeams.
surface,butthestructureisnotreally
domicalinshapeusingdefinablegreat 6.Thedomicalstructuresetforthinclaim3infurthercombintionwith:
circlearches.U.S.Pat.No.3,812,632
threebases,andwhereinsaidfirstpluralityofarcuatelyshaped
disclosesadomicalstructurewiththe
beamscomprisethreeinnumbereachsupportedbyoneofsaid
edgearchesspecifiedasbeingarces
bases.
ofsmallcirclesandthesurfacing
materialbeingreinforcedwithcurved 7.Adomicalstructurecomprising:
archesratherthanwithstraightstruts
underlyingbendzones.U.S.Pat.No. apluralityofarcuateedgebeamsextendingupwardandoutwardformingthe
2,978,074usescurvedgeodesic perimeterofsaidstructure,
strutsandsphericalisosceles
saidpluralityofedgebeamsformingastructuralframeworkforsaiddomical
trianglesbutthereisnoteaching
structure,
aboutthemoregeneralaspectsof
sphericaltrianglecoveringproblems adomicallyshapedroofcoveringforsaidframework,
includingthemethodforthespherical
scalenetriangle,andthereisno saidroofcoveringcomprisingapluralityofsphericaltriangularsectorswith

provisionforaraisedshelledgeunder eachsectorcomprisingaplanesurfacepanelformedbyinscribingacircle

whichthestructurecouldbeentered. touchingattangentpointsthethreesidesofasphericaltriangularsectorand
bendingsaidpanelfromsaidtangentpointstodefinethreesinglycurved
SUMMARYOFTHEINVENTION partsforeachofsaidtriangularsectors,

Inaccordancewiththeinnovations saidedgebeamsdefiningtheouterperimeteredgeofsaidroofcoveringand
claimed,animprovedmethodof forminganedgeofapluralityofsaidsphericaltriangularsectors,
designingandsheathingadomical
structureisdisclosed.Theclaimed saidtangentpointsdefiningtheendsofthestraightbasesofthreesingly

domicalframeconfigurationand curvedtriangularpanels,andaflatplanetriangularpanelinteriortosaid

sheathingpanellayoutprovidesa triangularpanelsborderingonthethreebasesofsaidcurvedtriangular

strong,lowcost,easytoerectand panels,

efficientdomicalstructureforusein
saidcurvedtriangularpanelseachfittingintoadifferentapexofoneofthe
domestic,commercialandmilitary
sphericaltriangularsectorswiththeflatplanetriangularpanelborderingthe
functions.
basesofsaidthreecurvedtriangularpanels,and

Thisinventionemploysasuperior
meansforconnectingthepanelsofsaidroofcoveringintoaunitary
methodofdesigningdomical
structure.
structures,takingadvantageof
triangulartrusstypeconstruction 8.Adomicalstructurecomprising:
techniqueswhichallowstheuseof
afirstpluralityofspacedarchesinverticalplanesinterconnectedina
simple,strong,pinnedjointsbetween
domicalstructuralframeworkbyapluralityofarchededgebeamsforming
archesandbeams.Theangles
theperimeterofsaiddomicalstructure,
betweenarchesandbeamsarelaid
outtoprovideaninterconnected saidframeworkdefiningapluralityofsphericaltriangularsectors,
triangularpatternwithastraightcross
beam(whenused)formingthebaseof adomicallyshapedroofcoveringforsaidframework,
cornerisoscelestrianglesas
saidroofcoveringcomprisingaplanesurfacepanelforeachspherical
illustratedinthedrawings.The
triangularsectorformedbyinscribingacircletouchingattangentpointsthe

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straightcrossbeamactsasabend
zonealongwhichtheinitiallyflatroof
panelcansmoothlychangeitsradius
ofcurvatureandyetbefullysupported
andretainthestrengththatisinherent
incurvedpanelsheathingmaterials.
Thebendzoneitselfstrengthensthe
panelsheathingtotheextentthatthe
bendzoneactssimilartoastraight
crossbeam.
Itis,therefore,oneoftheprincipal
objectsofthisinventiontoprovidethe
framingconfigurationforadomical
structuresoastoallowflatsheathing
materialtobeusedonthecurved
surfaceofthedome.
Anotherobjectofthisinventionisto
maketheframingconfigurationofthe
domesuchthatflatsheathingmaterial
canbelaidsothatitwillcurvein
morethanonedirectionenhancingthe
shellpropertiesofthedomical
structure.
Anotherobjectofthisinventionisto
providedesigncriteriaforflatsurface
panelssothattheywillfitovercurved
openingsofaframedstructuraldome.
Anotherobjectofthisinventionisto
showhowtolayoutanedgepattern
onflatsurfacepanelssothatthe
panelwillfitovercurvedopeningsof
thedomeandwillbecurvedin
differentdirections,enhancingthe
shellcharacteristicsofthedome.
Anotherobjectofthisinventionisto
createadomicalstructurewhich
enbracesalloftheadvantagesof
greatstrength,minimumamountsof
materials,lowcost,andefficiency,
yetissimpletoconstructanderect.
Anotherobjectofthisinventionisto
provideasimpleandeffectivemeans
forimprovingtheshellcharacteristic
ofdomicalstructures.
Anotherobjectofthisinventionisto
provideameansforsectionalizingthe
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threesidesofasphericaltriangularsectorandbendingsaidpanelfromsaid
tangentpointstodefinethreesinglycurvedpartsforeachofsaidtriangular
sectors,
saidtangentpointsdefiningtheendsofthestraightbasesofthreesingly
curvedtriangularpanels,andaflatplanetriangularpanelinteriortosaid
triangularpanelsborderingonthethreebasesofsaidcurvedtriangular
panels,
saidcurvedtriangularpanelseachfittingintoadifferentapexofoneofthe
spericaltriangularsectorswiththeflatplanetriangularpanelborderingsaid
straightbases,and
meansforconnectingthepanelsofsaidroofcoveringintoaunitary
structure.
9.Adomicalstructurecomprising:
afirstpluralityofspacedarcuatebeamsformingarcsofgreatcircles,
afirstmeansforconnectingsaidfirstbeamsattheapexofsaidstructure,
apluralityofarcuateedgebeamsextendingupwardandoutwardformingthe
perimeterofsaidstructure,
asecondpluralityofarcutebeamseachcarriedonatleastoneendbyone
ofsaidedgebeamsandsecuredattheirotherendsbysaidfirstmeansat
theapexofsaidstructure,
saidsecondpluralityofarcuatebeamsbeingspacedaroundthedomical
structurebetweeneachofsaidfirstpluralityofarcuatebeams,
saidfirstandsecondpluralityofbeamsandsaidpluralityofedgebeams
formingastructuralframeworkdefiningsphericaltriangularsectors,
adomicallyshapedroofcoveringforsaidframework,
saidroofcoveringcomprisingaplanesurfacepanelforeachspherical
triangularsectorformedbyinscribingacircletouchingattangentpontsthe
threesidesofasphericaltriangularsectorandbendingsaidpanelfromsaid
tangentpointstodefinethreesinglycurvedpartsforeachofsaidtriangular
sectors,
saidtangentpointsdefiningtheendsofthestraightbasesofthreesingly
curvedisoscelestriangularpanels,andaflatplanetriangularpanelinteriorto
saidisoscelestriangularpanelsborderingonthethreebasesofsaidcurved
isoscelestriangularpanels,
saidcurvedisoscelestriangularpanelseachfittingintoadifferentapexof
oneofthesphericaltriangularsectorswiththeflatplanetriangularpanel
borderingthebasesofsaidthreecurvedisoscelestriangularpanels,and
meansforconnectingthepanelsofsaidroofcoveringintoaunitary
structure.
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arches,beamsandpanelsemployed
inthestructuresoastofacilitateshippingandhandlingandtopermittheeasyerectionofthestructurebyrelatively
unskilledpersons.

Theseandotherobjectsandadvantagesofthisinventionwillbecomemoreapparentasthedescriptionisgivenandthe
featuresofnoveltywhichcharacterizethisinventionwillbepointedoutwithparticularityintheclaimsannexedtoand
formingapartofthisspecification.

BRIEFDESCRIPTIONOFTHEDRAWINGS

Thepresentinventionmaybemorereadilydescribedbyreferencetotheaccompanyingdrawingsofwhich:

FIG.1isatopplanviewofanimproveddomicalstructure

FIG.2isasideviewofFIG.1

FIG.3isasecondsideviewofFIG.1

FIG.4isatopviewofacenterroofpanelshowingthecurvaturesoftheoriginallyflatpanel

FIG.5isafrontviewoftheroofpanelshowninFIG.4

FIG.6isasideviewoftheroofpanelshowninFIG.4

FIG.7isatopviewofacornerroofpanelshowingthecurvaturesoftheoriginallyflatpanel

FIG.8isafrontviewofthecornerroofpanelshowninFIG.7and

FIG.9isasideviewofthecornerroofpanelshowninFIG.7

FIG.10isanillustrationofasinglycurvedsurface

FIG.11isanillustrationofasphericaltriangularopeninginasphericalsurfaceFIG.12isafurtherillustrationofasingly
curvedsurface

FIG.13isanillustrationofadoublycurvedsurface

FIG.14isanillustrationofasphericaltrianglecoveredbyafolded,singlycurvedsurface

FIG.15isanillustrationofanequilateralsphericaltrianglecoveredbyasinglycurvedsurfaceonwhichtherearebend
zones,withsectionsAA'andBB'showingellipticalintersectionswiththecurvedsurface

FIGS.16Aand16Billustratecurvedisoscelestriangleswithinscribedplaneisoscelestriangles

FIG.17illustratesasphericalscalenetrianglewithaninscribedplanetriangle

FIG.18illustratesascalene,curvedtriangularopeningcoveredwithanoriginallyflatsurface

FIG.19illustratesasphericalscalenetrianglewithtwoequalsided,singlycurvedtriangles

FIG.20illustratesasphericalscalenetrianglehavinganinscribedinteriortrianglewithaconicalsurface

FIG.21illustratesaplanescalenetrianglewithaninscribedcircleand

FIG.22illustratesasphericalscalenetrianglewithaninscribedsmallcircle,and

FIG.23isatopviewsimilartoFIG.1usingthreesecondaryarchesinplaceofsixsecondaryasshowninFIG.1.

DESCRIPTIONOFTHEPREFERREDEMBODIMENTDomicalStructure

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Referringmoreparticularlytothedrawingsbycharactersofreference,FIGS.13discloseaframeworkforadomical
structure10havingabaseormountingpad11foreachofthecornersofthedomicalstructures,thebases11being
preventedfromspreadingapartbyinterconnectingundergroundtensionalbars12runningbetweenadjacentbases11.

Base11istypicallyareinforcedconcretepadextendingwellabovethesurfaceoftheground13andextendingincolder
climatesbelowthefrontline.

Theframeworkofthedomicalstructure10,asshownclearlyinFIGS.13,comprisesprimaryarches14,secondaryarches
15,edgearches16andstraightcrossbeams17.Intheembodimentshowninthedrawings,therearethreeprimaryarches
14andsixsecondaryarches15,theprimaryandsecondaryarchesbeingarrangedaboutthepartialsphericalcontourofthe
domicalstructure10asgreatcirclesconvergingatthetopcenter18ofdomicalstructure10inamannersimilartothe
arrangementofthelongitudinallinesdrawnonaglobeoftheearth.

Thethreeprimaryarchesareequallyspacedfromeachotherapproximately120apartwithtwosecondaryarcheslying
betweenadjacentprimaryarches,againuniformlyspacedsothatbetweenadjacentarches,priimaryorsecondary,thereis
anangulardisplacementofabout40.Thethreeapproximatelyequallyspacedprimaryarchesrestattheirlowerendson
thethreebases11whilethesecondaryarchesterminatewellabovethegroundwheretheyintersecttheedgearch.

Theedgearchalsoliesinthesphericalsurfaceofdomicalstructure10anditextendsbetweentwoadjacentbases11and
risestoaheightatitscentermorethanhalftheheightofthecenter18abovethesupportofstructure10.Twoedgearches
thusconvergewithoneprimaryarchateachofthethreecornerswheretheprimaryandedgearchesaresecuredtobases
11bymeansofspecialsupportbrackets(notshown).

Thecrossbeams17arearrangedbetweenadjacentprimaryandsecondaryarchescompletingatriangulartrusspattern.

Thestrengthofthedomicalstructure10isinherentinitssphericalcontourbyvirtueofwhichtheprimaryandedgearches
areincompression,thetotalweightofthestructurethushavingtheeffectofforcingmostofthejointsorpointsof
intersectionbetweenthesearchesintoclosercontactwitheachother.Thesecondaryarchesalsohaveabending
movementimposedonthem.Thus,theymustresistashearingforce.

Whilethesecompressionalforceswouldtendtodrivethebases11outwardly,suchundesireddisplacementiseffectively
controlledandpreventedbytheprovisionofthetensionalrods12.Thesubsurfacetensionalrods12canbeordinarybolted
steelreinforcingbarswithorwithoutaturneduphook12Aateachendwhichiscastintotheconcretebase11.Thethree
rods12thuslieintheformofanequilateraltriangleholdingthethreebases11securelyatthecornersofthetriangle,the
tensionintherods12thuscounteractingthetotaloutwardlycomponentofcompressionexertedthroughthearchesbythe
weightofthestructure10.

Althoughtheembodimentshowninthedrawingindicatesastructure10havingonlythreecorners29supportedbythree
bases11,similarstructureshavingmorethanthreecornersarecontemplatedandsuchsimilarstructuresfallwithinthespirit
andscopeofthisinvention.

Roof

Theroofofthisdomicalstructurecanusesheathingoftongueandgrooveboards,plywood,orcompositionboardswiththe
usualcoveringofinsulation,tarpaper,shingles,etc.Thissheathingmaterialisinitiallyflatbeforeapplication,butbecomes
curvedwiththecontourofthedomesothatthesheathingactslikeadomicalshellovertheframeworkofthestructure.

Analternateroofingapproachmightusewovenglassfibers,metalmesh,orasimilarflexiblebasematerialwhichislaid
directlyoverthearches,stretchedtautandsecuredinplace.Asemiliquidcement,capableofhardening,isthenappliedto
thewovenmaterial.Inthisalternateroofconstruction,thedrapedroofmaterialisintension,thusitispossibletoeliminate
thestraightcrossbeamstherebyrealizinganadditionalsignificantreductionincost.

Thesheathingmaybepreformedofindividualsheetsgluedorfastenedintoindividualpanelsforeaseandspeedoferection
withfasteningstripsusedifnecessarytoaidinsecurelyfasteningthepanelstogetherandtotheframeworkofthedomical
structure.
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Inaccordancewiththeinventionclaimed,anewandimprovedroofingstructureisprovidedwhichwillutilizeapluralityof
twoormorekindsofcurvedtriangularroofpanels.Althoughfour,fiveandsixcornereddomicalstructurescanbebuiltusing
theseconcepts,forsimplicity,anequilateralthreecornereddomicalstructureisshownanddescribed.

Again,forthesakeofsimplicityinthedesigningofadomeformedfromcurvedroofpanels,apointofsymmetryonthe
sphericaltriangleischosensothatthereisacyclicalrepetitionofpatternaboutthispoint.Thisplanningmethodreducesthe
workinlayoutandactualconstructionofthebuildingbymakingpartsinterchangeablewithaminimumnumberofbasic
dimensions.Theaxisofhighestsymmetryoftheequilateralsphericaltriangleisthroughthecenterofthefigure,
perpendiculartothesphericalsurfaceandthepointofsymmetryistheintersectionoftheaxiswiththesurface.Extending
fromthepointofsymmetry,sphericalequilateral,isosceles,orscalenetrianglescanbeformedfromanoriginallyflatpanel.

Anotherdesignconsiderationforasphericaltriangularbuildingistheavailbleentryheightandsidewallheightofthe
structure.Itisimportanttohaveasuitableverticalentryheightwhendesigningasmallbuildingsincethisdimensionlimits
theminimumsizeofthestructure.Buildingsbelowacertainsizearenotfeasibleiftheycannotbecomfortablyenteredbya
fullsizeperson.Theoptimumsizedtriangularshapeddomicalstructureisreadilydividedintosphericaltriangles.Sucha
structureisshownbythecurvedarchesofFIGS.1,2and3.

CurvedSurfaces

Inaccordancewiththeinventionclaimed,theproblemofconformingasinglycurvedsurfaceasshowninFIG.10tothe
edgesofasphericaltriangleasshowninFIG.11hasbeensolved.Indisclosingtheclaimedinvention,thefollowing
definitionsshouldbekeptinmind:

Asphericaltrianglesisonewhosesidesareformedofarcsofgreatcircles.Agreatcircleofasphereisformedbythe
intersectionofaplanethroughthesphere'scenter.Asmallcircleisanyotherplaneintersectionwiththesphere.

Asinglycurvedsurfaceisasurfacethatmayhaveoriginallybeenflat.Thecurvatureofaflatsurfacewithrespecttoapoint
onthesurfaceiszeroinbothX,Ydirectionsthatis,theradiiofcurvatureareinfinitesince:

curvature=1/(radiusofcurvature).

Asinglycurvedsurface,viewedatapointonthesurface,haszerocurvature(infiniteradiusofcurvature)inonedirection
andsomefinitecurvaturevalueinthedirectionofrightanglesasshowninFIG.12.

Adoublycurvedsurface,viewedatapointonthesurfacehasafinitecurvaturevalueinbothdirectionsasshowninFIG.
13.Asphericalsurfacehasequalcurvatures,bothofthesamesign,intwodirections.Anoriginallyflatsurfacecannotbe
transformedintoadoublycurvedsurfacebysimplybending,usingtheconceptsofEuclideangeometry.

Itshouldbenotedthatallsphericaltriangles(equilateral,isosceles,andscalene)canbecoveredwithasinglycurved
surface.Butthecoveringtechniquemustfirstbespecified,becausetherearedifferentmethodsofcovering,someofwhich
arenotstructurallyacceptablebecausetheoriginallyflatsurfacemayhavetobefoldedtoaccomplishthecovering.For
example,asphericaltrianglemaybecoveredwithaflatsurfaceextendingcompletelyacrosstwosidesandtheincluded
angleandthethirdedgewouldbecoveredbythegreatcircleplaneextendingtothefirstcoveringsurface,intersectingalong
astraightfoldlineasshowninFIG.14.Thiscoveringmethodwouldaccomplishthebasicobjective,butthistypeofclose
foldingwouldbestructurallyunacceptble.

JointsintheShell

Anyjointsbetweenstandardsizedpanelsegmentsofthedome'sshellsurfacemustbeasstronglybondedandasrigidas
theshellitselforthejointbecomesazoneofweaknessandpossibleeventualbuckling.Ofcourse,themajorjointsare
betweenthesphericaltrianglesectionsalongthelengthofthearcheswhereadjoiningcurvedsurfacesectorsabut.Other
joints,internaltoacurvedtriangularsectormaybemadebetweenstandardsizedsheetsoftheoriginallyflatshellsurface
material,suchasplywoodorsheetmetal.Hereitisadvisabletouseastronglyfastened,nailed,riveted,orbondedjoint,
perhapsoverlainandfastenedtoanunderlyingstrutforadditionalstructuralstrength.

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Jointsintheshellsurfacecanbemademosteasilyoverthestraightbendzonesoroverstraightstruts,paralleltothebend
zone,thatmaybeplacedatintervalsforadditionalskeletalstrength,butjointscanalsobemadeoncurvedpartsofthe
originallyflatsurface.Foramaximumshellstrengthbetweensheetsadjacenttoajoint,thejointlineshouldlieonthe
originallyflatsurface,whichiscommontothetwosurfacesbeingjoined.

LayoutoftheShellSurface

Inordertoobtainamaximumbenefitfromthestrengthofadomicalshellsurfaace,itisfirstnecessarytoplanandlayout
theperimeterofthedome.Theperimetermustsustainstressconcentrationsthatmayarisebothinteriorandexteriortothe
shellsurface.Therefore,theperimeterzonemustbestrongerthantheinteriorshellsurfacealone.Innature,thisnecessary
strengtheningofshelledgesisseeninmanyexamples,notablyinthethickeningofedgesoftortoise,abalone,andwalnut
shells.

Theformandshapeofthisdiscloseddomeperimeterisimportantbecausetheheightoftheshelledgeabovegroundlevel
formsanopeningwhichcanbeusedforentryintothestructuretoprovideforwindowspaceandtobeusedforflat,vertical
wallsurfaces.

Therearestructuraladvantagesinhavingtheshellperimeterformedandstrengthenedbyunderlyingedgearches,extending
alonggreatcircles.Itisalsoconvenienttohaveotherinteriorarchesforthepurposeofshapingandstrengtheningtheshell
surfaceandtheseintermediatearchesshouldalsobeongreatcirclesofthedome.

Theperimeterandintermediatearchesintersectoneanothertoformsphericaltriangles.Thesesphericaltriangularopenings
mustthenbecoveredwithappropriateshellsurfacingmaterial.

Thepurposeofthecoveringisforstructuralstrengthwherelowanglebendingisacceptablebutwhereclosefoldingisnot.
Thefollowingcoveringtechniquesareacceptable:

EquilateralTriangles

Anyequilateralsphericaltriangle,havingsidesthatareeithergreatcircles(orevensmallcirclesofthesameradii)canbe
acceptablycovered.Theinteriorinscribedflattriangleislaidouttobeaplaneequilateraltriangle.ReferenceismadetoFIG.
15whereinacurvedequilateraltriangleisshownonwhichtherearebendzones.SectionsAA'andBB'showelliptical
intersectionswiththecurvedsurface.Thecurvedplanetriangleisbentalongthesebendlinesinthreedirectionstocover
theedgesofthesphericaltriangleexactly.

Itshouldbenotedthatthecrosssectionalshapesofthethreesinglycurvedsurfacesarethesameandthattheyareall
ellipticalinform.Theseellipticalsectionsarethesameforallsectionsatrightanglestoabendzone.Thebendzoneisa
tangentialtransitionbetweentheellipticalandflatsurfaces,whichistherequirementforanacceptablecovering.

IsoscelesTriangles

Thesphericalisoscelestrianglebeingconsideredheremustbeformedofgreatcirclesorsmallcircleswiththesameradii.

AninscribedplaneisoscelestriangleisconstructedasshowninFIGS.16Aand16Bandthecoveringplanesurfaceisbent
andcurveddownwardlytocoverthecurvedtriangleedgesexactly.Thiscoveringtechniqueisalsostructurallyacceptable
becausethereisatangentialtransitionbetweentheellipticalandflatsurfaces,aswasthesituationwiththecurved
equilateraltriangle.

ScaleneTriangles

Asphericalscalenetrianglehavingthreeunequalsidescanbeacceptablycoveredwithanoriginallyflatsurface.However,
thesectionsthroughthecurvedsurfaceatrightanglestoabendzonemaynotbeidenticalellipticalcurves.

Themethodofcoveringasphericalscalenetriangleisimportantbecausethetechniquegeneralycanbeappliedtoany
sphericaltriangularopening.Asmallcirclemustbeinscribedinthescalenetriangle.Toproperlylocatethecenterofthis
circle,eachofthecorneranglesofthescalenetrianglemustbebisectedandtheintersectionofthesebisectorswilldefine
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thecenterofthecircletobeinscribed.FIG.21illustratesthegeometricconstructiontechniquesasappliedtoaflatplanar
triangleandFIG.22showshowtolocatethecenterofaninscribedsmallcircleonasphericalscalenetriangle.Hereitcan
benotedthatthedihedralanglebisectorsarealsogreatcirclearcs.Thepointsoftangencyoftheinscribedcirclewiththe
threelegsofthesphericaltriangledefinetheaspicesofaninscribedscalenetriangle,theedgesofwhicharethestraight
basesforcurvedisoscelestriangleslyinginthecornersofthesphericalscelenetriangle.

Itshouldbenotedthatwheretwocurvedsidesofthecoveredscalenetriangleareaofunequallength,thecrosssections
throughabendzonewillnotshowidenticalellipticalcurvesbutrathertheyareconicalellipticalcurves.

Whencoveringacurvedscalenetriangle,itmaybedesirabletochoosethepositionoftheplaneinscribedtrianglesothat
thetwocurvedsidesadjacenttoabendzoneareofequallengthsothatstressdirectionsmaybeconsidered.Onany
scalenetriangle,twosuchequalsidedcurvedtrianglesmaybeselected,butthethirdwillhavetwounequalsidesasshown
inFIG.19.Inordernottoexceedthebendingstrengthofthecoveringmaterial,thelengthsofthetwounequalsidesofthe
thirdcurvedtrianglemustbechosenwithcarebecauseaconical,ellipticalsurfacewillbegenerated.

Inordertohaveastructurallyacceptablecoveringsurface,thesmallestradiusoftheconicalellipticalsurfacemustbelarger
thantheminimum(strengthwise)radiusofcurvatureofthecoveringmaterial.

Theformoftheconicalsurfacecanbecalculatedbyapproximatingthissurfacewithanumberofnonparallelbendzones.
Processingfromthetruebendzoneatthebaseofthecurvedtriangle,thebendzonesconvergetoformaninfinitesimally
smallisoscelestriangleattheapexofthecurvedtriangle,asshowninFIG.18.Thisconstructionsupportstheruletending
thatcurvedisoscelestrianglesmustbeusedtocoversphericaltriangles.Itshouldbenotedthatsecondarynonparallelbend
zonesconvergetoaninfintesimallysmallisoscelestriangle.

Anotheracceptablewayoffittingasinglycurved(originallyflat)surfacetoasphericalscalenetriangleistoallowthe
inscribedinteriortriangletobeaconicalsurfaceratherthanaflat,straightsidedtriangularsurface.ThisisillustratedinFIG.
20.Thestraightsidedlegsoftheinteriortriangleareshownasdashedlinesandtheconstructionallowscurvedisosceles
trianglestobeformedintheremainingtwoareas,asisshown.

ApplicationofRoofingtoaDomicalFramework

Theroofisformedofsphericaltriangularpanelscoveredwithoriginallyflatsurfacematerial.

InthedomicalsurfaceshowninFIGS.13,theprimary,secondaryandedgearchesarearcsofgreatcirclesandtheyform
thesidesofsphericaltrianglestobecovered.Theroofpanelsareoriginallyflat,andwhenappropriatelycurvedandfastened
tothearches,thepanelsactasashell,givingoverallstrengthtothestructure.Crossmembers,ortertiarybeams,canbe
locatedatthebendzonestolendadditionalstrengthandsupport.However,abendzoneinitselfactslikeastraight
structuralmember.Thestrengthofthesurfaceshellcanbevariedwithdifferentmaterials.

Severalgeometricparameterscanbevariedtosatisfytheconditionsrequiredforastrongroofstructure.Generally,allroof
panelsaredesignedsuchthatthebendzonesarecontinuousbetweenpanelssoastoformatensionring.Some
compromiseismadeforthesakeofsymmetryandgeometriccompatibilitywithadjacentpanels.

InprovidingaroofforthedomicalframeworkofthestructureshowninFIGS.13,anapproximatelyisoscelesspherical
trianglesshowninFIGS.46maybeusedhavingcorners18,26and27.Ideally,thereisaninscribedplaneisosceles
trianglewithinthisfigure,suchasthetriangleformedbypoints22,23,24ofFIG.4.Theformingoftriangle22,23,24within
triangle18,26,27permitsthelayoutofthreeplanecurvedisoscelestrianglesformedbypoints23,28,2224,26,22and
23,27,24.Triangle18,26,27ofFIG.4isnotmadeexactlyasimpleplanetrianglesothatedge18,22,26willadjoina
correspondingedge18,22,26inanadjacentsphericaltriangle18,29,26showninFIGS.1,3and79.Theentirespherical
triangle18,26,27ofFIGS.13canbecoveredwithasingle,originallyflatsurfacewithcrossbeams17underlyingthebend
zonesasoutlinedbyplanetriangle22,23,24,illustratedinFIGS.46.Thus,thesidesofthetriangularpanel18,26and27
aremadetoexactlyoverlayarches15,15,15.

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WithreferencetoFIGS.1and7,itisnotedthatsphericaltriangle18,26,29isapproximatelyisosceleswithside18,26
beingaboutthesamelengthasside26,29.Itispossibletosubdividethislargersphericaltriangleintosmallercurvedplane
triangles.Itcanbenotedthatpoint28ishalfwaybetweenpoints18and29andthatadistancebetweenpoints18and26
canbemadetobethesameasthedistancebetweenpoints18and28.Also,theangledefinedbythesides26,18and29
18canbemadesubstantiallythesameastheanglebetweenthelinesdefinedbypoints26,18and27,18therebyproviding
overallsymmetrytothedomicalstructure.

Thus,itispossibletolayouttheinteriorplanetriangle28,30,22suchthattriangles28,18,22and29,28,30arefigures
withequalcurvedsides28,1822,1828,29and30,29withstraightbases28,22and28,30.Theremainingsmall
triangles22,26,30isnotisosceleshowever,theradiusofcurvatureoftheconicalsurfaceisnottoosmallsothatthe
extensionofasinglecurvedsurfacewilladequatelycoverthisopening.Thebendzonesoftheoriginallyflatroofpanelare
shownasdashlinesonFIG.7.Thecurvededgesofthepanelwillexactlyoverlaybeams14,15,16ofFIGS.13.

TheremainingsevensphericaltrianglesofthedomicalstructureshowninFIGS.1,2and3canbelaidoutinduplicationof
thetwotrianglesjustdescribed.Thispermitstheentireroofofthedomicalstructuretobecoveredwithnineoriginallyflat
panels.Jointsintheflatroofingpanelmaterialshouldbemadeoverstraightstruts,suchasatbendzones,sothatthereis
nolossinshellstrength.

Althoughthedomicalstrengthisshownhereinwitharoofconfigurationonly,suitablewalls,doorsandwindowsmaybe
arrangedanyplaceundertheroofstructureasknowninthepriorart.

FIG.23isatopviewofadomicalstructuresimilartothatshowninFIGS.13whereinlikepartsareprovidedwiththeprime
ofreferencecharactersusedforthevariouspartsofsimilarstructuralelementsshowninFIGS.13.FIG.23differsfrom
FIGS.13inthatonlythreesecondaryarches15'areusedinplaceofthesixsecondaryarches15showninFIGS.13.

ThemethodofcoveringsphericalscalenetrianglescanbereadilyappliedtothedomicalstructureshowninFIG.23.As
describedabovewithreferencetoFIGS.21and22asmallcirclemaybeinscribedinthesphericalscalenetrianglesformed
bytheprimaryandsecondaryarches14'and15'andtheedgearch16'.Thecorneranglesofthescalenetrianglesare
bisectedandtheintersectionofthesebisectorsdefinethecenterofthecircletobeinscribed.Thepointsoftangencyofthe
inscribedcirclewiththethreesidesofthesphericaltriangleformedbytheprimaryandsecondaryarches14'and15'andthe
edgearch16'definetheapicesofaninscribedscalenetriangle,theedgesofwhicharethestraightbases(bendlines)for
curvedisoscelestriangleslyinginthecornersofthesphericalscalenetriangle.

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