16/02/2018

Building Bigger and Better in FRP Composites

David Kendall Optima Projects Ltd

david.kendall@optima-projects.com
+44 7774 887037

2018 Dubai © Optima Projects

Geometric efficiency
Previous examples
Much larger future FRP Structures
Questions / discussion
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Geometric efficiency

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Design wind speed

186mph = 300 km/h
24 years old

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Radome diameter/thickness ratio 800:1

Table tennis ball ~100:1

Ø20m

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So how will we make MUCH

larger FRP structures?

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320m diameter
52m high Millennium Dome / O2 Arena
12 masts 100m high
Each mast 100 tonnes
72km of cables

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320m (1050’) Diameter Clear Span

52m
PERSON

320m

80,425m2 covered floor area

Dome surface area 88,920m2 only 10% more than floor area

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Entrance canopies incorporated whilst

maintaining shell structure philosophy

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62m wide entrance canopy

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Totally open clear space inside

could form the largest single clear space ever enclosed
& the largest FRP structure ever built
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Snow / Imposed Loading to EN1991-1-3:2003

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Wind Loading to EN1991-1-4:2005

Wind

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Self-weight
deflection 80mm

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Self-weight +
snow load
deflection 156mm

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Wind load
deflection 94mm

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Wind load + Self weight

deflection 94mm
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2 tonne load at
centre + Self weight
deflection 94mm

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Self weight
Buckling Factor = 5.3

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Self weight + Snow

Buckling Factor = 2.23

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Stresses all very low

FoS >10

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Structural Details

• Structure self weight ~ 4000 tonnes

• Self-weight < snow load
• Very high utilisation of material
• Very high thermal insulation
• 2652 tonnes of air in dome
• Diameter/thickness ratio 800:1,
8 times more slender than table tennis ball

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Methods of Construction
• Conventional moulded panels assembled
on site.
• Sub-assembly of large areas, jacked into
position.
• Very large panels moulded on site
(no transport limits).
• Moulded as 1 piece continuous structure
over inflated fabric former.
• Robotics, drones, additive manufacture etc

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Thank you – Questions/Discussion

David Kendall - Optima Projects Ltd

david.kendall@optima-projects.com
Tel +44 7774 887037
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