Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Gurdur · 08-12-2003, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tenpudo

This description stand out to any other Robert Jordan fans here?

You scare me.

It is because I love good SF/Fantasy that I am definitely not a Robert Jordan fan.
Moreover, while I am in the habit of nicking others' ideas, I assure you I did not get the idea from Roberrt Jordan --- in fact, the whole thing is one of those very rare times when it was pretty much solely my own inspiration.
The shape of the dome (3 arches) was basically dictated by the garden plot which has pre-existing large bushes and a small wall behind; if anyone is really interested, I will put up pix later.
The adjourning �-circular "arch" with one foot free-standing in air was one of my more whimsical moments of inspiration.

Nevertheless, I'ld love to know what the hell you are talking about, since I've read very little of Robert Jordan (I only made it through a few paragraphs before throwing it away in disgust).

hyzer · 08-12-2003, 06:32 PM

Sounds like a great backyard project. Pics would be neat to see.

Cantenary vs parabolic? Architects have used every conceivable curve and found beauty in them all.

As for me, I imagine two approaches in choosing:

a. doodle until a pleasing sketch is achieved, measure the curve and decide if the sketch is closer to a segment of a circle or a centenary or a parabola, the result is therefore your choice.

b. construct an argument for one shape to render the decision, for example �since the catenary shape is determined by gravity and since my arch is going to be used to create a space (defying gravity if you will) then the catenary is the appropriate shape.�

BTW: my son says that the three arch dome appears in book two of the Wheel of Time series.

Gurdur · 08-12-2003, 07:13 PM

hmmmm, thanx for the info.
All respect to everyone, but I will still avoid Robert Jordan.

Tenpudo · 08-12-2003, 08:43 PM

Don't worry-- I'm not one of his many "rabid" fans (he isn't even my favorite author *gasp*!)
And I don't believe you swiped the idea from him -- it's just a fairly elegant shape that for some reason I've not seen an example of, outside of his works.
Good luck with your project!

Tyler Durden · 08-13-2003, 01:40 AM

I heard confessions are good for the soul, so i confess to reading Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time. (On Jalamdhara's recommendation

)

Due to a masochist attitude i have, I will finish the series and get it over with, even if it's degenerated into downright dreadful example of mass consumerism - recycled plot/cardboard characters/etc - cuz I want to see how Al'Thor and the gang in WOT go out. In order to save money and my sanity, I read the new ones during my bookstore pitstops.

In the first few books, from 1 to 4, the story, the pacing, the developments turned out a a yarn that was above average, better than mediocre, but nosedived with and after book 5. I have a morbid fascination with the horrendous stuck-in-a-rut Jordan seems to be in since book 8.

After all, after you've read the science fiction /fantasy section inside out, what's a rabid fan of the genre to do?

hyzer · 08-13-2003, 05:19 AM

My son (13) is reading them all, on to book 9 right now.

I got half way through book one and just could not take any more. Never finished the Dune books either.

enigma555 · 08-13-2003, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gurdur
Well, yes, I'm asking that too, but since I'm so idiotically anal given an aesthetic/intellectual puzzle, I'm also asking which is more stable etc.
I really don't mind that the difference is physically negligable, I just would like to KNOW the theoretical 0.00000001 difference.

I'm shooting from the hip here...

My SWAG (Scientific Wild Assed Guess) factor is telling me that the catenary arch will have (very slightly) higher stresses in the arch itself, and the parabolic will have (very slightly) higher stresses in the support structure.

IOW, you'll need an 1/32th of an inch wider concrete footer for the parabolic arch or 1/1000th of an inch thicker steel supports for the catenary. Good luck finding a contractor who won't laugh you out of the county when you let them know your erm... exacting requirements.

Potato - potato

Six of one - half dozen of the other.

Gurdur · 08-13-2003, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by enigma555
....
. Good luck finding a contractor who won't laugh you out of the county when you let them know your erm... exacting requirements. ...

Du kannst mich mal.
I'm making this all by myself.

Abacus · 08-14-2003, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pmurray
And it's formula is the hyperbolic cosine:

cosh(x) = e^x + e^-x

Actually it's

cosh(x) = (e^x+e^-x)/2

Sorry, but I just have to pick that nit.

08-13-2003, 01:40 AM	#15
Tyler Durden Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: I am Jack's ID Posts: 592	by the by I heard confessions are good for the soul, so i confess to reading Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time. (On Jalamdhara's recommendation ) Due to a masochist attitude i have, I will finish the series and get it over with, even if it's degenerated into downright dreadful example of mass consumerism - recycled plot/cardboard characters/etc - cuz I want to see how Al'Thor and the gang in WOT go out. In order to save money and my sanity, I read the new ones during my bookstore pitstops. In the first few books, from 1 to 4, the story, the pacing, the developments turned out a a yarn that was above average, better than mediocre, but nosedived with and after book 5. I have a morbid fascination with the horrendous stuck-in-a-rut Jordan seems to be in since book 8. After all, after you've read the science fiction /fantasy section inside out, what's a rabid fan of the genre to do?

08-13-2003, 05:19 AM	#16
hyzer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: philadelphia Posts: 1,844	ot My son (13) is reading them all, on to book 9 right now. I got half way through book one and just could not take any more. Never finished the Dune books either.

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08-12-2003, 06:32 PM	#12
hyzer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: philadelphia Posts: 1,844	Sounds like a great backyard project. Pics would be neat to see. Cantenary vs parabolic? Architects have used every conceivable curve and found beauty in them all. As for me, I imagine two approaches in choosing: a. doodle until a pleasing sketch is achieved, measure the curve and decide if the sketch is closer to a segment of a circle or a centenary or a parabola, the result is therefore your choice. b. construct an argument for one shape to render the decision, for example �since the catenary shape is determined by gravity and since my arch is going to be used to create a space (defying gravity if you will) then the catenary is the appropriate shape.� BTW: my son says that the three arch dome appears in book two of the Wheel of Time series.

08-12-2003, 07:13 PM	#13
Gurdur Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Buggered if I know Posts: 12,410	hmmmm, thanx for the info. All respect to everyone, but I will still avoid Robert Jordan.

08-12-2003, 08:43 PM	#14
Tenpudo Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Bellingham WA Posts: 219	Don't worry-- I'm not one of his many "rabid" fans (he isn't even my favorite author gasp!) And I don't believe you swiped the idea from him -- it's just a fairly elegant shape that for some reason I've not seen an example of, outside of his works. Good luck with your project!

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