Foam Domes

[Glenn Butcher]

The detracting attribute of a dome shape is the interior space lost in the curved wall to the outside. It's the same sort of space lost in a curved teardrop profile as it slopes to the back, or the rounded front. With a dome, you're losing interior space in both length and width.

I'm noticing this consequence of curved profiles in some designs I'm noodling with for a 40x48 trailer:



The left-hand one is just a simple radius curve on the front, the right one is a back-to-front slope similar to jbyrd's Go-Camp. In the slope profile, I can't scoot the figure as far forward as I can in the simple curve profile. I like the slope's look better, but there's more room in the other, and that's important for a small trailer. Well, at least one my wife will want to climb into...

The dome shape can be very strong, but I think the lost space kills it for a small trailer...

[WoodSmith]

I'm not suggesting a full dome trailer, I think it could be used at the top front to blend front and sides to the top for better aerodynamics. See GPW's Foamstream.

[GPW]

I could easily visualize that kind of nose on the FoamStream ... ... and if made out of thick foam all cut to the correct angles , a bit of the outer sharpness of the edges could be sanded down a little for a bit more smoothing ... That would be Nice ...

It’s either that or overlapping “rings" , or a solid block carved away ... None of which is particularly easy to do ... With the dome style , at least you could make up some angle cutting jigs to slip the triangles in to hot wire (or whatever) slice the edges for a close fit when assembled ... From what I can see you only need two separate jigs ... one for each type of triangle ... Once set up , you could cut out a bunch of parts at one time ... make a big mess , and then you’re done ... Covering over the geodetic surface might become "interesting” ... Might be easy ... ??? Gotta be easier than the “basketball “ looking silly job I did on the FS ...

[Mary C]

GPW, you did a wonderful job So just stop, that may be your view but it is certainly not the views here on this forum. You did a great job!!!!

Mary C.

[KCStudly]

+1. Nix the nits.

[GPW]

Now if we could find a 6’ diameter weather balloon ... ...

[Glenn Butcher]

GPW, I didn't mean to diss your effort; FoamStream looks great! This thread brought back memories with the dome structures, and I was working out space inside a 4'x6' trailer, thus my observation.

The dome house we lived in at Kwajalein was 1700 square feet, 3br/2ba, so it felt sufficiently roomy, but you knew you were missing space when you walked near the walls. Spherical structures of all sorts are strong, so it's definitely worth considering in a design if you have the room. For the 4'x6', I'm about to settle on a simple box so we can both sit comfortably. A shame, as I really like jbyrd's Go-Camp profile...

Regards,
Glenn Butcher