Re: Catenary curve was: Grand Shelters update

From: a (noway_at_spamfree.net)
Date: 09/02/04 

Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 20:25:31 -0400

"Ed Huesers" <ed@grandshelters.com> wrote in message
news:4136665D.9B14FD06@grandshelters.com...
> <group added>
>
> > Ed Huesers wrote:
> > > For the volume of snow required we are having a hard time finding a
> > >computer program that will model a true catenary curve. We've been
doing
> > >it by layout and then entering the measurements into a solid modeling
> > >package. It takes a bit of time to measure up an igloo and enter the
> > >information and we've only modeled the 8 and 9 footers.
> > > Anyone know of a program that'll do it...?
>
> doc wrote:
> > I would have expected being able to use Calculus for the volume of the
> > whole, less the volume of the empty space inside. Isn't there a simple
> > equation for the igloo shape?
>
> We've had a few people give us the equation for a catenary curve but
> alas, it is beyond us.
> It would be easiest to continue doing it by layout compared to
> learning calculus.
>
> Ed Huesers
> http://www.grandshelters.com

I missed most of this thread, so I may be missing a lot, but here's a
thought:
I use both Archicad and Autocad daily and I think either would do it with
relative ease - mostly. The only thing I'm not sure of, is the caternary
curve. The easiest thing I can think of, is to actually dangle a rope to
model the curve, and then overlay a photo or tracing digitally.
Alternatively you could write a procedure to generate the p-line, but right
now it's beyond me (ahem, been 30+ years since I had to do it...).
Modelling the igloo once you have a section curve is very easy.

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