Why is a monolithic dome almost indestructible? Monolithic domes are structurally more stable than the straight lines in which traditional homes are constructed. The shape actually transfers energy around itself rather than concentrating energy at the point of load.
According to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, the word monolithic means, 'cast as a single piece b : formed or composed of material without joints or seams
c : consisting of or constituting a single unit.
A dome is essentially an extended circle, a compound curve. David South, co founder of Monolithic Constructors, Inc., and the Monolithic Dome Institute tells us, "We all learn in grade school that the arch was one of the most important architectural advances in human civilization because it has a curved shape throughout, and curves are structurally more stable than straight lines."
A curve can hold more weight, has more give in strong winds and has more flexibility in the event of external shock. David South says, "With a dome, you have an infinite number of arches going through the same spot."
This reduces the stress on load bearing walls and connections. David South explains, "When you're building structures, one of the things that we talk about all the time with structures is "moment connections." A moment connection is a point on a structure where energy is transferred to a different direction instantaneously."
A moment connection transfers weight to either side. Think about the toothpick bridges most of us built it high school physics. The point where you glued the toothpick together is a moment connection. When you lie something on top of your bridge, the weight is distributed evenly through out the structure. If you take the same toothpick bridge and set it outside in a strong wind, it will sway in the wind. Moment connections make that flexibility and movement possible.
David South further explains, "When a roof hits a wall, for instance, that's a moment connection. During an earthquake, the building sways back and forth, and these moment connections tend to fall apart."
An arch, by definition is one piece. It is not connected to anything and therefore has no moment connections. David South elaborates, "Because it's a structure composed of an infinite number of arches, a dome has no moment connections."
The entire monolithic dome is one piece, it's basically a huge concrete bowl. There are no joints, no moment connections, and therefore, nothing to sway. Energy is transferred around the dome, instead of concentrated on one point.
David South says, "You can set a bowl upside down on a table and rock that bowl around and do whatever you want with that bowl, and nothing really happens to it because it is just a single piece -- there is nothing flexing. That's why an earthquake means absolutely nothing to a dome. It has no moment connections. Also, as far as wind, wind obviously blows over round structures rather than blowing them down. Lastly, it is that dome shape, again, that transfers the energy around itself instead of concentrating it on the point of load."
Monolithic domes are almost immune to the forces of nature because they are one piece and have no joints to wear or break. Energy is transferred naturally around the dome.
