Sustainable Shaping of Lightweight Structures Created According to Different Methods

Abstract

This paper presents the problem of the efficient shaping of spherical structures of geodesic domes, which is the basis for creating a regular octahedron, in the aspect of sustainable development. The proposed two methods of shaping covered by this study differ in the way the dividing points of the initial edges of the regular octahedron are connected, and, therefore, in the way the sphere is shaped. Using different methods, two families of domes with different lengths of struts but with a similar number of them were obtained. The conducted comparative analysis leads to the indication of this method of shaping the topology, thanks to which it is possible to obtain structures with less consumption of construction material, and, consequently, with less weight. Both the geometry and weight indicate the advantages of geodesic domes created using the first subdivision method. The selection of the appropriate method of shaping geodesic domes is a consequence of a sustainable design strategy. The presented structures in the form of geodesic domes, the basis of which is a regular octahedron, can be original, innovative coverings, while the detailed analysis carried out is intended to provide design guidelines that will facilitate both architects and designers.