Student Number : 0003370N -
MSc dissertation -
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering -
Faculty of Engineering / This dissertation investigates the different design and construction
considerations involved when building a masonry dome. A detailed shape
investigation was undertaken in order to summarize the best shaped dome
structures. General recommendations are given for the shapes that produce the
least tension and the most useable space.
The effects of openings, temperature loading and wind loading were
considered and a finite element analysis of the final structure was undertaken.
It was found that regions of high tension exist around openings, especially
under temperature loading, and materials suitable to resisting this tension were
investigated (fibre plaster, chicken wire mesh and wire wrapping around
openings).
The final structure was built using an inflatable formwork. The construction
procedure was well documented and a study of alternative methods of
construction is presented.
This dissertation shows that a durable, architecturally and structurally efficient
low-cost masonry dome can be built if proper attention is given to minimizing
and resisting tension within the structure.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/2005 |
| Date | 15 February 2007 |
| Creators | Talocchino, Gianfranco |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 4241383 bytes, application/pdf, application/pdf |
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