Randome Emergency Geodesic Shelter

For the average person it means you can create a shelter structure easily and at little cost. You won’t need to use a geodesic calculator or figure out strut bend angles or even worry about making a cover. It’s also a great project for people of all ages, introducing some science notions that are easy to understand.

If you are wondering what spacing to use between shapes, don’t: any section of the surface of the dome has the same curvature, whether on top, on the sides or at the base. That means the spacing of any Randome shape is not critical. The RanDome is put together intuitively, therefore you roughly calculate the placement of each shape or vertex element.  RanDome is a play on the word “random” for that reason.

http://vimeo.com/33234090

Comments

[randomeshelter]

Formula:

For a hemisphere-

2.4 A / a = N

Big 'A' is the area of the dome footprint.

Little 'a' is the area of the vertex element, independent of shape (circle, square, etc.)

N is the number of elements.

The constant allows for a 20% overlap of the elements.

[floatchick]

I love geodesic domes! If I wanted to build one, I understand the method, but I don't see a materials list, or actual instructions, so this isn't really an "Instructable", per se. What material did you use? Is it commonly available? How many circles did you use? I realize you can make any size you want, but in your example can you give the measurement across and how many circles you used to get that diameter? Thanks.

[mikesmithfl]

YUK! -1 for autoplay on the video

this comment made before I investigate the cause, I notice it's from Vimeo and I'm totally unfamiliar with that service. I HATE autoplay.

[See MingL]

Very Nice. Makes me regret missing the country fair. a. when you work with stiffer materials (aluminum for example), larger vertexes, would this become a two man job, or are there other easy ways of working assembly?. b. could this be a way of approximating a strut dome cover? c. do you have a formula for 3/8 dome?

[Sebastopol Plantman]

What kind of experience have you had with this dome and wind?

[randomeshelter]

Strength is a function of material, fasteners and anchoring. One Randome is on the coast of Maine. It is 0.040 aluminum. Wind and snow, so far, have left it completely intact.

[randomeshelter]

It was built in 2004.

[dome_head]

Clever design. The cones could be mass produced and stacked up for compact shipping and storage. Some cones could be clear for windows, modified with screened holes for ventilation, or made from flexible solar cell sheets with built-in LED lighting. Foam board cones would insulate. A simple ring from pvc or emt conduit attached to the base would add great rigidity to the entire structure. No internal struts or framework needed. No pesky triangles with weird dimensions and complicated strut connectors. Shelter reduce to its most basic element, a membrane between inside and outside. Simple and beautiful!

[rimar2000]

Very interesting!