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A roof over a manure reservoir eliminates the entry of precipitations, reduces odour and volatile gas emissions, lowers the storage and handling costs and alleviates environmental impacts. / Structural analysis and testing were carried out to establish the feasibility of geodesic domes as manure reservoir roofting. A stress analysis, conducted by computer was used to determine maximum compression loads on roof members. Compression tests were carried out in the laboratory to test two laminated designs and to evaluate the performance of a member joint. / Structural analysis showed that the Lamella type dome, with a diameter/height ratio of 4, offers the best geometry considering design criteria for manure roofs. Compression tests confirmed that laminated members, made of 38 x 89 mm and 38 x 140 mm pieces, can resist the design stress developed in a 22 meter diameter dome. / Loading tests revealed that non laminated wood members failed at 80% of the design load. However, the joints (formed by two 3,1 mm thick steel plates bolted to the members) were still able to resist an increase in loading. / Data obtained from the tests were used for a preliminary design of a geodesic roof taking into account specific conditions such as humidity and manure gas. However further study is required to adapt this concept to real conditions over a manure reservoir. / The cost of a 22 meter diameter dome, for covering manure reservoirs, is estimated at 79$/m$ sp2$ which is more expensive than the cost of the currently used, least expensive manure pit roof (wood truss design).

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