dont laugh...anyone ever been asked to design a yur

huangyhg

don't laugh...anyone ever been asked to design a yurt??
has anyone ever been asked to design a yurt?  i have a client that needs a certified design on a yurt.  the building department is requireing a sealed set of drawings. the building is 30' in diameter.  i am having a little trouble with the wind loading and the whole wall system. google yurst and look at the wall system its made of 1"x2" crossing members pinned together....would you look at doing this kind of design?
look at some of the approved yurt designs for use in the parks and other areas of the western u.s. they may give you some insight into the structural systems used since many are quite authentic and do meet the local requirements and loadings.
you may be faced with the classic problem of trying to prove that something that works and has long term performance can be rationalized and meet the current code requirements. much depends on whether you have to be authentic or can adjust the design to comply with current design methods/practices.
if you see any photos, be aware that some of the interior elements may be more ornamentation than structurally functional. yurts were originally a temporary structure (centuries ago), but the one i was in (mongolia) had been there for over 150 years.
dick
is this a permanent structure?  it looks more like a temporary shelter.
this will be a "permanent" structure.
it looks like there are manufacturer's that supply pre-designed yurt structures.  is it possible for you to just write a performanced based spec for one?  similar to a pre-engineering building structure?
where are the deflection criterias and service loads for buildings like this?
whats a yurt?
i seem to recall a past article in structure mag or similar regarding a timber building designed using crossed timbers on the flat.
if you can find that article then it may point you in the right direction with regards to design method.
possible you could analyse it as a tube and then convert the tube stresses into loads on the slats.
a bit of lateral thinking and first principles required, but i can visualise how it could be done.
i've been asked to design two yurts and a castle.  turned down all three projects
akastud
very interesting problem!
if you're dealing with an existing structure which has (past-tense) already survived for quite some time, the canadian building digest's cbd-230 may be your answer.  it is essentially a guideline on how to rationally argue that your building is "field tested", assuming an undeteriorated condition of the structural system.  available online at: irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/cbd/cbd230_e.html
now, you could argue along similar lines regarding the performance of such a system given the long, well extablished, record of performance of these buildings on the stepps.  however any building official who questions you automatically wins as you will have no real evidence of the long term in-service behaviour without doing alot more research.
good luck!
ys
p.s.  love a challenge, and this would be great. that said, and along the lines of akastud's comment, i'd be charging by the hour!
b.eng (carleton)
working in new zealand, thinking of my snow covered home...
great little structures - had tea in a few back in our days in xinjiang china - up near heavenly lake (fukang area).  always thought that a neat "house" would be to have three or 4 of them clustered with covered walkways between them.
  can't help you on the design, per se, but they've been around a lot longer than any of your city building inspectors!!!