Dome Structure for Hotel

Well, you did not specify the purpose of such a dome, so my response must be necessarily incomplete. First, I am sure there must be at least a few companies that can supply prefabicated dome-frames in approximately the size you stated. If none are acceptably close, you could theoretically achieve an essentially exactly-sized dome-frame by doing the following;

1. Obtain a pale-colored soccer ball (preferrably white, old & worn-out is fine);

2. Take a dark-colored felt-tip pen and darken the boundaries of the constituent pentagons and hexagons;

3. Draw in the internal triangles of the pentagons and the hexagons. (This could (potentially) result in a dome that could be made from only two components, one being in the shape of an equilateral triange, and the other, an isosoles (sp ?) triangle)

4. Cut the ball exactly in half along a circumferencial line. This will give you a scale model of the necessary dome-frame.

5. An appropriate engineer could then scale-up such a model to the diameter desired, and then design the necessary struts and connecting plates. (it would take just two types for the dome-portion, and just two-similar types for the compression ring.)

It is unclear whether this dome is to be decorative or structural. "Acrylic panels" would tend to suggest a decorative purpose, while "air-tight" would seem to suggest a more structural requirement. In either case, an appropriate engineer could provide an acceptable solution, once given the appropriate details needed.

Is this dome to be enter-able? portable? permanent? for interior, or exterior, use?

( Can I collect a token consulting fee for this response? ;-) )

Dia 10m xH=8m is not hemispherical. Paraboloid-maybe in 10 sectors 1 meter straight to approximate the Parabola.

40-60 degC is burning Summer Heat of UAE. Leakproof.So Stainless Steel Skin out to the Sun.Must keep shape intact over years. So a carefully fabricated Dome outer skin. If 2mm thick Skin used, the sun-looking skin alone will weigh 3.2 Tons.You can halve it by going for 1mm thick skin

Assuming the Acrylic skin is inside facing, you need the Dome structure to have hangers for same.If you want cool AC air to ciculate between SSouter skin and inside acrylic, you will need to engineer a central feed/discarge pipe for symmetry. All in all you can make it with gross weight of ~3 Tons -and lift to position with(Tower?)crane as a complete job done on ground.If you are not watching costs-go for Aluminium/Magnesium/Dural/Titanium.

Weight can be reduced too.

Now the Dome streamline and fabrication: TIG /MIG/MAG weld WILL BE A MUST.

Look for a good fabricator .If he cannot venture I am here.

www.insite.com.br/rodrigo/bucky/geodome.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geodesic_dome

There are many more search goole "buckminster fuller geodesic dome"

I would sugest getting an propper architect and structural engeneer to design and oversee the project. You will pay liability law suits for the rest of your life if something goes wrong and people got hurt..or killed when 6-10 tonnes of steel and acrylic collapses to a heap of scrap.

I would suggest you contact MECLC *

They are based in the Middle East and can advise you on composite concretes, textiles, acrylics, lightweight concretes, decorative structures, one-off designs et cetera.

They are also familiar with local climatic conditions. From first hand experience I would advise you that 60 deg C may be the maximum ambient design temperature but it is not unheard of that certain surfaces rise to 90 deg C plus when in direct sunlight during the summer months.

Good luck.

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I recall that a stainless steel structure was built to show off an archetectual feat(feature) but had to be modified after the fact as it reflected the sunlight into adjacent buildings and "blinded" the occupants. The whole of the structure face had to be dulled down to scatter the reflected light enough so as to not cause an intense reflection. Just something to keep in mind when designing with SS as an exterior facet.

That was the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

We are from India. We can quote a turnkey cost for both structural design as well as fitment of Polycarbonate sheets (nor acrylic- as acrylic may break) which is wind proof and unbreakable. If interested pls reply back to * http://custompartsonline.com/

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only one way to go.. www.monolithic.com

low cost/energy efficient and the most sturdy type of construct out there..

www.iochre.co.uk

Dear Sir,

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Ps. Please if you are not interested for that kind of cooperation ,please will you be so kind and recomand me some of your colegue friends who is interested for cooperation.

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Milutin K.Zizic, Grad.Civ.Eng.