STRUCTURAL MEMBRANES 2023

Design and installation of a large pneumatic dome in Brazil

  • Pauletti, Ruy Marcelo (University of São Paulo)
  • Bauer, Carlos (Saltus Comércio e Serviços de Coberturas)

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This paper presents the design and installation of a set pneumatic domes recently installed in the south of Brazil, intended for theater performances and cinema projections, during the 2022 Christmas and New Year celebrations. Conceived by entrepreneur Edson Erdmann, with a diameter of 60m and a height 30m, the main dome is one on the largest pneumatic structures built so far for entertainment applications. The city of Canela is a favorite touristic spot in the south of Brazil, and the shows under de domes, which have a capacity of about 2000 spectators, attracted large audiences during the Christmas season. The domes are constituted of single layer polyester-PVC envelops, with the larger unit reinforced by a set of 40 steel cables arranged radially, converging to a cable ring at the top of the dome and anchored to a perimetral base ring made of reinforce concrete. The location is susceptible to intense wind gusts, requiting that the domes were designed for a normal operation wind speed of 70km/h and an ultimate wind speed of 130km/h. Since the main dome was intended for high-resolution cinema projections, the creases of the membrane surface should be as small as possible, and the reinforcements cables were installed with low prestress forces. Figures 1(a/b/c) of the abstract display the original architectonic rendering and two pictures of the installed domes. The structural response of the main dome under several load conditions was analyzed. For an intermediate wind speed of 100 km/h, Figures 1(d/e) of the abstract show respectively the fields of the norm of the displacements and of the maximum principal surface stresses on the membrane envelope. A maximum displacement u = 2.02m was observed at the windward side, and a maximum surface stress S1= 18 kN/m was observed at the top of the dome, with moderate wrinkling detected at the windward side. Figure 1(f) shows the normal loads action on the cables, with maximum normal load N = 88kN occurring at port and starboard sides and slackening occurring at the cables on the windward side. Of course, since the direction of the wind is arbitrary, all cables must be designed to withstand the maximum loads. The paper also discusses the membrane patterning, the details of the entry and exit locks, the fan system, and other construction details.