Triangles, Bridges And Centripetal Space Habitats

[SkepticJ]

Making metal bridges from steel triangles is a very good idea because triangles are one of the strongest known shapes. My question is, would making a bicycle wheel-like space station's foundation braced with lots of triangles of whatever construction material is used(carbon fiber, aluminum, titanium etc.) make the space station be able to handle higher rotational speed without flying apart than using an unbraced sheet of material as the station's foundation?

 

[LunchBox]

To a degree this could help. However, there is a limit to the angular velocity with which a ring can safely rotate. There are tangental and normal stresses that are imparted on a spinning disk. So a strut system could help distribute the stresses due to rotation.

FYI: This is why you won't see a CD-ROM speed faster than 72x because that is the rotational speed at which the acrylic the disk is made from fails (and the 72x drives have a hardened steel case to prevent flying acrylic shards... of death).

Cheers...

 

[NatSusan]

That's a great question! Using triangles in the construction of a space station's foundation could definitely increase its strength and stability, especially when considering rotational forces. Triangles are known for their ability to distribute and withstand weight and pressure evenly, making them a great choice for structural support.

In terms of the specific materials used, it would depend on the specific properties and strengths of each material. However, using a combination of materials such as carbon fiber, aluminum, and titanium could potentially create a very strong and durable foundation for the space station.

In addition to using triangles, bracing the foundation with multiple layers of these materials could also enhance its ability to handle rotational forces. This would distribute the weight and pressure even further, making it less likely for the space station to fly apart under high rotational speeds.

Overall, I think using triangles and a combination of strong materials in the construction of a space station's foundation would definitely improve its ability to handle rotational forces and increase its overall strength and stability. Great idea!