 Quote by Sirloin
The only energy I want to dissipate is the egg's energy, which is independant of the shell, no? And my diagram is very imperfect, imagine a perfect circle. The purpose of a sphere of superballs is to maximize the force of gravity on the entire structure as a whole, rather than on a component of say, a rectangular prism, as well as to have a round surface contacting the ground on every collision, no matter what the orientation.
I don't understand how radial springs would be used, I'm not familiar with this type of spring. Also, what do you mean by supporting sphere? The sphere I'm using as a template to make the bouncy ball shell? I intend to use just a foam ball I bought, glue together half the bouncy balls to be used, and then do the other half without gluing the two halfs. I'll have to find a method to attach them for trials, I may do an entire half, fashion the springs to the interior, then do the next half without gluing the top "cap" (think kippah (jewish headwear)), so when I'm done fashioning the springs to THAT half, I can glue the two halves, and have a removable cap.
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But you don't need to 'dissipate' the energy of the egg. All you need to do is to limit its acceleration so that the forces aren't too high. There is an essential difference between the two ideas. It really wouldn't matter what actual speed the egg reaches during a bounce as long as it is not subjected to an accelerating force that could break it.
In your diagram you show a hollow shell that is a sphere when not under stress? But you now imply that the ball will be almost full of foam. I was assuming a rigid sphere (stronger than your pictured bungee design) which would have spokes going from the centre to the edges. The spokes (radials) would be long coil springs, supporting the egg carrier at the centre. These springs would allow the egg to move freely under moderate acceleration whilst the sphere is doing its violent bouncing.
Your main trouble will be in making a bouncy ball that is actually bouncy enough. In order to be bouncy it must not flex very much because flexing will involve energy loss due to hysteresis.
Have you seen the sort of sphere used in 'Zorbing'? That was the sort of structure I am envisaging - with the egg supported like the human is, only with springs instead of the straps.
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