
|
|
|
|
|
09/08/2004
Email to a friend
Comment on this article
|
There is always a need for structures that can be delivered flat, and very quickly erected to cover an area.
Problem: The usual solution offered is a tent, but apart from the time spent to unpack and erect them, they tend not to be very durable.
Solution: Jörg Student took inspiration from nature and aerospace composites in the design and development of his "Ha-Ori" dome greenhouse shown at this year's Royal College of Art design show.
Ha Ori is Japanese for "folding leaf" and the structure is based on the way the leaf of a hornbeam tree unfolds. It also, Mr Student admitted to Eureka, owes something to studies previously undertaken at the University of Stuttgart, of which he is a Diploma graduate, on structures investigated as alternatives to honeycomb for aerospace. The idea there is to develop sandwich constructions that are cheaper to make and can be made in curved forms for applications such as missile nose cones.
The dome structure greenhouse seen at the show started as a single sheet of corrugated polypropylene, which was cut and had fold lines formed into it by a tool with a heated element, specially developed for the project. Student said he made the final construction from 28 elements, although he could have made it from only 5, if he had had large enough sheets, or 2 very long strips.
Design work was undertaken in 2D using spreadsheet calculations followed by modelling in paper, although he said the ideal CAD tool to have used was Alias Maya, if he had had access to a copy at the time.
Applications: Quick to erect structures for emergencies and construction projects and the insides of sandwich composite constructions with complex curved shapes. TS
Industrial Design Engineering at the Royal College of Art
Alias Maya
Email to Jorg Student
|
|
| |
Author Tom Shelley
|
| |
| |
This material is protected by Findlay Media copyright 2012. See Terms and Conditions. One-off usage is permitted but bulk copying is not. For multiple copies contact the sales team.
|
| |
|
|
| |
To comment on news stories or blogs you need to complete our 60 second registration
process. Once completed this then allows you to download any and all white papers,
register for e-zines and access our detailed supplier directory for FREE.
If you are all ready a registered user then enter your e-mail address and login.
You will need to have logged in prior to entering your comments in the boxes provided.
|