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#351 Re: Terraformation » Rapid Terraforming... - ...the most ambitious ideas? » 2006-05-24 04:46:53
MarsDog,
Interesting, karov has a similar approach to the same problem.
With multi layers all pressured differently and a triangle or honey comb structure built right in to the layers, you should be able to do away with the need for guide wires.
With so many layers of material above the inside you probably won't need water as a shield or counter balance.
With many layers the structure would be well insulated from the outside elements and temperature, so little energy needed .
It makes for a pretty simply structure that is self supporting and only needs earth like atmosphere in the final bottom bubble, compressed Martian atmosphere for all other layers.
Clear plastic is probably not a great choice for mars, but lots of other similar materials can be used.
The biggest problem i see on a large dome on mars isn't the engineering, its the sand/dust storms wearing away the material.
#352 Re: Terraformation » Rapid Terraforming... - ...the most ambitious ideas? » 2006-05-19 05:14:22
MarsDog,
Why stop at two layers of plastic as the structure?
If you make a blow up structure with 4 or 5 layers you could have a different pressure in each layer.
That should minimize the extreme pressure difference as each layer will only have 1/4 th or 1/5 th the total pressure.
If the plastic layers are honey combed like a bee hive and offset from each other the likeliness of a 5 depth tear is very unlikely.
A single honeycomb tear will only add its pressure to the next 3 honeycombs 1 layer up.
#353 Re: Terraformation » Rapid Terraforming... - ...the most ambitious ideas? » 2006-05-16 05:04:32
MarsDog,
The idea of a double layered plastic with water in between is a great one for radiation control.
I wonder if that same layer as ice could be used to counter balance the structure or at least make it a more robust structure?
It might be an interesting construction project to build a big double layered pond that freezes solid, then just blow it up from inside to form the structure.
A few well placed internal guide wires for stabilization.
I agree the forces on any large structure on mars will have to be well thought out, and a pie shape with little differential over the entire structure will help minimize it.
#354 Re: Terraformation » Rapid Terraforming... - ...the most ambitious ideas? » 2006-05-15 05:03:18
MarsDog,
15.9 lbs sq/i is asking an awful lot of any material.
Differential between inside dome and outside Martian pressure.
Now I'm not saying a dome isn't possible, just saying robust structure is an understatement.
P.S 1/2 spinning gravity attraction was a very interesting read, i hadn't read that before and he made a very interesting flow to how everything works, just didn't want to fuel a fire any further with a response 
Sometimes it's better to say nothing when no one is listening