totm jan 2025 Optimal size for domes and other structures

[magnemoe]

On 1/4/2025 at 7:43 PM, StrandedonEarth said:

Hmmm. The neat thing about supporting the ‘lith cover with air pressure is that if there is a leak, or the airlocks need to be cycled rapidly, the pressure would remain nearly constant as the roof sags. The downside is that leaks wouldn’t naturally slow due to lessening of the pressure differential. 

You don't want the roof to collapse, period. First an thin structure is much easier to make an large hole in by driving some heavy equipment into the balloon than steel, also if it collapses you have to dig up the hole again and replace it. Or its an leak because some drove an forklift into the wall, add some patches then you get an crew in to patch it. 

[magnemoe]

2 hours ago, farmerben said:

I wish I could tell you what the state of the art is for well drilling.  A few decades ago we were limited by the torsional strength of steel shafts, but they have overcome that somehow.  Do they lower the motor down the shaft?  Or is it all water based?  Idk.

I say that because if you just want warm water, I'm pretty sure you could drill a 10 cm hole easier than than a 4m one.  Removing the cuttings is half of the work.

For oil drilling you use hydraulic powered drill heads, these tend to be 30-50 cm and you can control them to drill vertical. My apartment blocks is heated by ground water and heat pumps. Its an river nearby so we simply steal heat from the ground water flowing by. These drill rigs is much larger than the ones used for rock blasting. Its also horizontal drilling for pipes for getting under roads and housing but this tend to be in dirt not rock. 

[darthgently]

34 minutes ago, magnemoe said:

For oil drilling you use hydraulic powered drill heads, these tend to be 30-50 cm and you can control them to drill vertical. My apartment blocks is heated by ground water and heat pumps. Its an river nearby so we simply steal heat from the ground water flowing by. These drill rigs is much larger than the ones used for rock blasting. Its also horizontal drilling for pipes for getting under roads and housing but this tend to be in dirt not rock. 

Sure, but a 20km vertical shaft?  Kola bore is just over 12km and it was not easy to do at all.  I can’t imagine automating that.

[magnemoe]

13 hours ago, darthgently said:

Sure, but a 20km vertical shaft?  Kola bore is just over 12km and it was not easy to do at all.  I can’t imagine automating that.

Agree, now I'm pretty sure they use an hydraulic driven  drill heads, benefit is that it both cool and take away the cuttings 

[tater]

 

[StrandedonEarth]

5 hours ago, tater said:

 

Wow, sounds like a mega-sized version of Vancouver's Bloedel Conservatory. A good history in that link

From a separate website:

Quote

Bloedel Conservatory is a domed lush paradise located in Queen Elizabeth Park atop the City of Vancouver’s highest point. More than 100 exotic birds, koi fish, and 500 exotic plants and flowers thrive within its temperature-controlled environment.

To stay on topic, it seems like a quite do-able size for a heavy-duty dome.

[tater]

2 hours ago, StrandedonEarth said:

To stay on topic, it seems like a quite do-able size for a heavy-duty dome.

I posted that as an example of what sorts of interior spaces are potentially possible, even under ground, tbh. I think height is important to create a sense of openness for people living out their lives in hallways.

[darthgently]

1 hour ago, tater said:

I posted that as an example of what sorts of interior spaces are potentially possible, even under ground, tbh. I think height is important to create a sense of openness for people living out their lives in hallways.

Ceiling height is important for many reasons:

Aesthetics and claustrophobia mitigation as you note.

Given each chamber will also potentially contain the route to other chambers, the more room vertically and horizontally the better for accommodating the through-ways.

A big chamber can be partitioned to a multifloored chamber if required but as not easily vice versa.

Better stratification in case of fumes or fire.  One can move down if fumes are lighter and potentially up if fumes are heavier.

Makes the space more flexible for repurposing.

Drone racing contests would be more fun with cathedral/stadium ceilings.

Edited 8 hours ago by darthgently

[Nuke]

id like to see some cats in there. what was once a cute fuzzy thing jumping on your shoulder is now death from above. im sure the first time a cat tries to jump up he will end up smashing into the dome. eventually they will figure out they can jump up bound off the top of the dome right onto your head to punish you for putting it in that position in the first place.

Edited 4 hours ago by Nuke

[tater]

1 hour ago, Nuke said:

id like to see some cats in there. what was once a cute fuzzy thing jumping on your shoulder is now death from above. im sure the first time a cat tries to jump up he will end up smashing into the dome. eventually they will figure out they can jump up bound off the top of the dome right onto your head to punish you for putting it in that position in the first place.

Animals I think will be needed, for companionship, as well as food I think.