3 ms·
I used to be a big fan of space mega constructions until I got further into my engineering career. Now whenever I think of a O'Neill cylinder or other mega con
by lumost 6y ago
I used to be a big fan of space mega constructions until I got further into my engineering career. Now whenever I think of a O'Neill cylinder or other mega constructs I can't help but imagine stress fractures, metal fatigue, vibrations and resonant frequencies, cascading failures, and high-risk repairs.
It surely could be done, but the amount of trial and error required and the potential for high stakes failures is a daunting challenge.
- hinkley 6y agoDzhanibekov effect makes me pretty sure you should spin the cylinder the other direction, in which case it doesn't have to be as long. What do you think about Kim Stanley Robinson's hollowed out asteroids? Less efficient use of materials and angular momentum, but possibly a more stable arrangement.