Bamboo Based Geodesic Domes

Bamboo Based Geodesic Domes
Supervision: Prof. Suresh Bhalla
Lakshay Behl
2006CE10268
Project Objectives
• Construction of Erectable Lightweight Geodesic
Domes
• Made Of Bamboo, With High Deploy Ability
• Advancement in Development of Connection

Mechanisms to Tie & Connect Bamboo Elements
Together
Construction Methodology
• Construction of 3/8 Bamboo Based Geodesic Dome
• Instructions By R. Buckminster Fuller
• Based on Pg. 95, Title: “Domebook Two”, 1971, by

Pacific Domes
Action Plan
1. Conceptual Analysis
2. Literature Review
3. Calculations
4. Conceptualization & Finalization of Connection
Mechanism
5. Procurement Of Raw Materials
6. Fabrication On The Basis of Buckminster Fuller
Approach
7. Strength Testing
Geodesic Domes
• A geodesic dome is a spherical or partial-spherical shell
structure or lattice shell based on a network of great circles
(geodesics) lying on the surface of a sphere.
• The geodesics intersect to form triangular elements that have

local triangular rigidity and also distribute the stress across the
entire structure.
• When completed to form a complete sphere, it is known as a

geodesic sphere.
Geodesic Domes … contd.
• Geodesic designs can be used to form any curved, enclosed
space.
• Oddly-shaped designs would require calculating for and custom

building of each individual element—resulting in potentially
expensive construction.
• Because of the expense and complexity of design for fabrication

of any geodesic dome, builders have standardized a few basic
designs.
Fabrication Approach (Fuller)
• The geodesic dome contains two different joints: a B joint
which occurs at the vertices of all pentagons formed, and an R
joint which occurs at all other points.
• The spans from joint to joint are BB, BR, or RR. The arc factors
of these lengths are:
• BB=.26030616
• BR=.31030984
• RR=.32636688.
Cutting & Measuring The Members
• There are only two different lengths of members
used in the fabrication.
Cross Assembly

The R cross consists of two R
The B cross consists of two B
members whose lengths are: 1/2 BR
members whose lengths are: 1/2 BB
plus 1/2 RR plus 12" extra at each
plus 1/2 BR plus 12" extra at each end.
end.
With 12" extra on the end of each stick,

there'll be a 24" overlap when the crosses are assembled
Cross Tying

Place members at right angles to each other and tie firmly, but not too
tight. During assembly of the dome, the crosses will twist into proper
position as shown.
In all cases, when looking at a cross with the acute angles at the sides and
the obtuse angles at the top and bottom, the member going from the upper
right hand corner to the lower left hand corner always passes over the
other member.
Stage 1 Assembly
• The first stage in the assembly of the dome is the

construction of the pentagon at the top of the dome.
This process employs 5 B crosses.
Stage 1 Assembly
• Step A: Tie together two B
crosses
• The end measuring points

have the same designation
as the cross to which they
are connected.
Stage 1 Assembly
• Step B: Add two more B
crosses in the same manner
as shown in step A.
• The fourth joint remains

untied to accommodate the
fifth cross that will be
introduced in Step C.
Stage 1 Assembly
• Step C: Add fifth B cross
between the untied legs.
• In order to insert this cross,

all crosses will be twisted so
that a regular pentagon is
formed.
• Stage 1 Complete
Stage 2 Assembly
• The second stage consists of closing
the five triangles around the
pentagon. Use five R crosses.
• Again, the end measuring points

always have the same designation as
the cross to which they are
connected.
• At this point, the structure will tend

to bow. Turn the structure so that it
is convex upwards.
Prop It
• Lift the assembled figure off the ground to
facilitate the addition of new crosses Using five
bi-ped props.
• Each prop consists of two bamboo sticks about 7

feet long, tied together near the top with a cord
about a foot long.
• These props will then support the dome at

equidistant points from it's apex; first at the five
vertices at the top of the pentagon, later at five
corresponding points on the top five hexagons.
Stage 3 Assembly
• For the third stage, use ten R crosses as shown.
Stage 4 Assembly
• The fourth stage uses 5 B crosses which close the five hexagons.
Stage 5 Assembly
• The fifth stage uses ten B crosses to close ten triangles.
• Six of the crosses can be seen in the diagram.

Stage 6 Assembly… Completion
• The sixth stage uses ten B crosses and ten R crosses to complete
the first horizontal band.
• We now have a 3/8 dome.
Advantages Of Bamboo
• Construction industry is one of the most polluting industries in

the world.
• Production of both concrete and steel cause considerable

deterioration of the environment.
• Producing every ton of cement results in the emission of at least

one ton of carbon dioxide (CO2).
• Roughly 5 to 10 percent of global CO2 emissions are related to

the manufacture and transportation of cement.
• Similarly, production of every ton of steel is accompanied with

the release of over two tons of CO2 in the atmosphere.
• From environmental consideration, production of every ton of

bamboo consumes about a ton of the atmospheric CO2.
• This is in addition to releasing fresh oxygen into the

atmosphere.
• From structural engineering point of view, bamboo has

competitive strength characteristics.
• Typically, species like dendrocallamus giganteus (DG) have

tensile strength of about 120 MPa, compressive strength of 55
MPa and Young’s modulus of 14 GPa.
• These figures do not compare badly with mild steel which has
an ultimate strength of 410 MPa, yield strength of 250 MPa and
Young’s modulus of 20 GPa.
• Concrete has much lower strength than those of bamboo reported

here.
• In addition, the low density of bamboo, which is typically 700

kg/m3, results in much higher strength to weight ratio as
compared to steel (density = 7800 kg/m3) and concrete (density=
2400 kg/m3).
• The only shortcoming with raw bamboo is susceptibility to termite

attack which can beset aside by suitable chemical treatment
Milestones Accomplished So Far…
• Conceptual Analysis and Literature Review

– Understanding of Geodesic Domes
– Fuller Approach to Construction of Bamboo Based Geodesic
Domes
– Review of Strength Tests on Bamboo Performed Earlier
– Review of Earlier Projects on Bamboo Based Structures
Completed in IIT-Delhi.
• Calculations
Calculations
• Diameter of The Dome: 4 Meters
• BB = .26030616 X 4 / 2 = 0.50 Meters

• BR = .31030984 X 4 / 2 = 0.62 Meters
• RR = .32636688 X 4 / 2 = 0.66 Meters
• Length of a B Member = 0.6 + 0.5 X (RB + BB) = 1.16 Meters

• Length of an R Member = 0.6 + 0.5 X (BR + RR) =1.24 Meters
Calculations
• B Crosses Required: 30
– B Members Required: 30 X 2 = 60
– Use 60 1.16 Meter Long Bamboo Elements
• R Crosses Required: 25
– R Members Required: 25 X 2 = 50
– Use 50 1.24 Meter Long Bamboo Elements
Next 2 Months
• Conceptualization & Procurement of a Suitable Connection
Mechanism
• Procurement of Other Raw Materials: Bamboo Elements,

Epoxy, Steel Wires etc.
• Fabrication of The Dome on The Basis Of Fuller Model.
• Strength Testing of The Dome For Non-Uniform Compression

Loads.
References
• DesertDomes.com
• Wikipedia.com
• BambooTechnologies.org
• Report “Bamboo At The Institute For Structural Design” by

Institute for Structural Design RWTH Aachen University
• Mini Project Report on “Tensegrity Based Poultry Shed” by:

Nikhil Vyas, Under Supervision of: Dr. Suresh Bhalla
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Bamboo Based Geodesic Domes

Supervision: Prof. Suresh Bhalla

• Made Of Bamboo, With High Deploy Ability

• Advancement in Development of Connection

• Construction of 3/8 Bamboo Based Geodesic Dome

• Instructions By R. Buckminster Fuller

• Based on Pg. 95, Title: “Domebook Two”, 1971, by

• The geodesics intersect to form triangular elements that have

• When completed to form a complete sphere, it is known as a

• Oddly-shaped designs would require calculating for and custom

• Because of the expense and complexity of design for fabrication

With 12" extra on the end of each stick,

• The first stage in the assembly of the dome is the

• The end measuring points

• The fourth joint remains

• In order to insert this cross,

• Again, the end measuring points

• At this point, the structure will tend

• Each prop consists of two bamboo sticks about 7

• These props will then support the dome at

• Six of the crosses can be seen in the diagram.

• Construction industry is one of the most polluting industries in

• Production of both concrete and steel cause considerable

• Producing every ton of cement results in the emission of at least

• Roughly 5 to 10 percent of global CO2 emissions are related to

• Similarly, production of every ton of steel is accompanied with

• From environmental consideration, production of every ton of

• This is in addition to releasing fresh oxygen into the

• From structural engineering point of view, bamboo has

• Typically, species like dendrocallamus giganteus (DG) have

• Concrete has much lower strength than those of bamboo reported

• In addition, the low density of bamboo, which is typically 700

• The only shortcoming with raw bamboo is susceptibility to termite

• Conceptual Analysis and Literature Review

• Diameter of The Dome: 4 Meters

• BB = .26030616 X 4 / 2 = 0.50 Meters

• Length of a B Member = 0.6 + 0.5 X (RB + BB) = 1.16 Meters

• Procurement of Other Raw Materials: Bamboo Elements,

• Fabrication of The Dome on The Basis Of Fuller Model.

• Strength Testing of The Dome For Non-Uniform Compression

• Report “Bamboo At The Institute For Structural Design” by

• Mini Project Report on “Tensegrity Based Poultry Shed” by:

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