Civil Engineering Reference
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capability) and the fabric roof (needing to sustain large deformations under wind and
snow loading) uses a continuous inflated tube, more than a meter in diameter as the
movement connector.
1.5 Cable Domes
A newer technology for long-span roofs is found in the fabric-covered cable dome, a
structural system based on Buckminster Fuller's tensegrity dome developed in the
1950s. The basic scheme is circular in plan using radial trusses made of cables
except for vertical compression struts. Circular hoops take the bottom chord forces as
shown in Figure 1-15.
Figure 1-15
Cable dome schematic
(Sketch by the author)
The Fuller Dome developed instability under unsymmetrical loading conditions, and
this problem prevented any practical use until it was overcome by design changes
introduced by David Geiger. Andrew Stefaniuk, David Chen and Paul Gossen (all of
Geiger's office) also contributed. The first successful cable domes were constructed
in Seoul, Korea for the 1986 Asian Games and later used for the 1988 Olympics. The
Gymnastics Arena was 120 meters in diameter and the Fencing Arena, 90 meters.
The first cable dome in the United States was the Redbird Arena on the campus of
Illinois State University. It was designed by Paul Kennon, architect, and David
Geiger. David Campbell of the Geiger firm was the engineer. It is elliptical, 90 x 77
meters in plan, and heavily insulated between the outer structural fabric and inner
fabric liner. Completed in 1989 it has an unusual design feature in that it has only
one tension hoop between the inner tension ring and the perimeter compression ring.
This visually emphasizes the peaks created by the vertical struts and gives the roof a
more crown-like appearance. (Personal communication with David Campbell, July 9,
1990)
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