Strength of Shapes

[Allen Jiang]

I was just wondering, which is stronger, A Giant Half Dome or A Giant Pyramid?

Like, for example, if one were to create a super city, which was to be enclosed, which would be better? What if the city (inside the hollow pyramid or half dome) were at a tornado or hurricane prone area? What about.. the moon or Mars?

Yeah, I just thought it would be cool to build a city like that, anyone seen The Truman Show? Haha.

[Travis Schmiesing]

I was just wondering, which is stronger, A Giant Half Dome or A Giant Pyramid?

Like, for example, if one were to create a super city, which was to be enclosed, which would be better? What if the city (inside the hollow pyramid or half dome) were at a tornado or hurricane prone area? What about.. the moon or Mars?

Yeah, I just thought it would be cool to build a city like that, anyone seen The Truman Show? Haha.

half dome.

[Rasmus Groth]

I agree - generally.
A pyramid would be stronger if resisting downforce on the tip of it. On the other hand a dome would certainly be stronger generally since a pyramid has large flat areas ont the sides that are weak compared to the theoretically infinitly double-curved surface of the dome.

Other than that the space would be better used in a dome if it were to house a city. A sphere has much better volume/surface area ratio than a pyramid.

Take a look at The Extreme Engineering programs from Discovery (I think) "Sky City" And the one about the pyramid city project in Tokyo

[Cesar Rullier]

however....

from an architectonic POV, I think that a pyramid seem to convey a stronger sense of stability when aproched from an orthagonal angle in relation to its base....

correct me if I am wrong.. I am just a student ! lol

[Allen Jiang]

Well, I saw the Extreme Engineering show. Very interesting, although that pyramid was hollow. I was thinking more along the terms of the Luxor casino in Las Vegas, just larger in size.

But its true, a half sphere would have more volume than a pyramid of the same height. But on a massive scale, such as a building to enclose an entire island or town, wouldn't it be easier to build the flat edges of a pyramid, as a little sacrifice in strength, than the curves of a dome?

I mean, I remember one architect was able to create large domes from air pressure pumped under cement, but that doesn't sound reasonable for something to be miles in diameter.

[Steve Shaw]

Cipher read up on Bucky Fuller.

The dome would be the simplest to create there would only be to or three elements which could all be mass produce. If built in a circular fashion, like an igloo, it would be self supporting duing construction.