When things like bridges or stadium roofs are built, they’re designed to withstand not just the stress that they will experience on a frequent basis, but also the maximum stress loads that they’ll only be subjected to once in a while – these could take the form of things like snowfalls or wind storms. This means that much of the heavy, costly materials that the structures are made of will only occasionally prove necessary. Researchers from the University of Stuttgart, however, have come up with an alternative. They’ve designed a lightweight structure that actively adapts to increased loads via built-in hydraulics.
Known as the SmartShell, the open-air structure covers over 100 square meters (119.6 sq yds) of the university’s Vaihingen campus. Its curving wooden shell is only four centimeters (1.6 in) thick, and has supports at each of its four corners. While one of those supports is static, the other three incorporate hydraulic drives, made by project partner Bosch Rexroth.
The shell also contains sensors in various locations, that are linked to a control system. When these sensors detect a change in the structural load being placed on a particular part of the shell – such as might be caused by a shift in the wind – the hydraulics react independently within milliseconds to compensate for that load, keeping material stresses and deformations to a minimum.
Computer models were used to determine what movements would be necessary in order to counter specific load values on different parts of the shell.
The scientists believe that the technology could find use in a wide range of structures, where it would minimize weight, materials costs, and structural fatigue.
SmartShell was officially unveiled to the public this Monday.
Source: University of Stuttgart
In an emergency situation where you might suddenly want additional bracing, such as an earthquake, you wouldn't be able to depend on the power staying on to operate the hydraulics.
@ Kuryus - The cost savings would come from the reduced cost of initial construction. The system allows the whole structure to be much lighter and therefore less expensive to build.
It seems to be BETTER to have the "foundations of the design" rooted in being strong enough in the first place, because of the inherent issues in having weak designs, AND the odd bit of catastrophic failure that can occur when compounding issues create failures of the back up equipment, through power, power connections, storage systems, failures in maintenance, and other unforeseen circumstances.
Like the insects that got into the relay and died or built a nest in it - and it was never picked up and so when the system needed to activate, the relay could not trip, and so the hydraulic pumps would not switch on and so the "strengthening" could not occur, and so the structure with it's 3 feet of snow on it in the gale force winds, ripped loose and collapsed on everyone inside, killing hundreds - blah blah blah......
It's all those little things that are eliminated if the thing is properly built in the first place, WITH no need to rely on any passive or active systems to prop it up when circumstances change.
For instance, the pyramid of Cheops does not need to rely upon a automatic fire extinguisher system to keep it's self safe, and it has not done so for the last 5000 years. Why? Because nothing used in it's construction can burn.
It's that default level of logic.
It's like "Leaping out of the ground floor window of a burning building."
Adding in 10 stories greatly modifies the outcome for the jumpee.
There is something inherently and fundamentally good about these kinds of designs.