How to Reinforce Geodesic Domes

The beauty of the geodesic dome is that all the weight of the structure is evenly distributed to all the structural struts that make the dome itself. Therefore the dome is as strong as its weakest section. In order to improve the structural integrity of a geodesic dome, you must improve the strength of each segment. As opposed to typical building construction, which generally relies on a superstructure that bears all the weight, a geodesic dome spreads out the weight meaning that few building materials are required.

Reinforcing segments of the same lengths as the geodesic dome
Connecting hardware of appropriate strength

Instructions

- 1
  Identify and measure the three lengths of struts used in the dome.
- 2
  Cut and drill out bolting holes in all of the replacement strut sections. By replacing the struts with stronger materials, you increase the total strength of the structure. For example: If you have a geodesic dome made from toothpicks, the entire structure would have a sum compression strength of all the toothpicks combined; but if you replace the toothpicks with metal bars, the dome would have the compression strength of the bars used, greatly increasing its weight-bearing capacity.
- 3
  Replace one strut section at a time, ensuring that appropriately strong hardware is used when joining them together. Removing one section at a time and then replacing it will allow for enough structural integrity to hold the structure's shape without collapse, as long as no other external forces are applying weight on the dome.
- 4
  Check all segment fasteners for proper tension after replacement. If any fastener were to fail, five or six segments would become detached, forcing excessive weight to be borne by the remaining struts.

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