Metrodome roof collapse

[NutmegCT]

For those with no other source of news ...

Metrodome roof in Minneapolis just collapsed due to snow. Vikings/Giants game looking for new digs (no pun intended!).

Metrodome

T.

 

[Billm]

That news report said that the dome is made of teflon?
That can't be right, it must be tedlar- anyone know?
BillM

 

[Brooklands]

It always was reported as Teflon...my work used to take me to Minneapolis where I saw a number of Twins game and Teflon was always the description they used...

 

[startech47]

I,m sure that it is a Teflon coated fabric. To shed the sow. Hum, didn't seem to work this time.

 

[tomshobby]

But it did shed the snow. Right about on the 35 yard line!

 

[Steve]

Rather appropriate, seeing as how the Vikings' season collapsed several weeks ago.....

 

[70herald]

Those roofs are normally made up of multiple panels of very strong fabric held together with velcro. The roof is "suspended" by air pressure. It seems like the air pressue / loading on the roof got out of wack and the velcro popped open. Most likely there was more snow on one side than on the other. They should have it back to full working order in a few hours.

 

[JPSmit]

Most likely there was more snow on one side than on the other.

Mmmmm, you're right, likely more on the outside.

 

[NutmegCT]

Anyone want to watch the collapse?

https://cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2010/12/12/nr.metrodome.collapse.video.foxsports

T.

 

[anthony7777]

nutmegct, didnt this same thing happen there a couple of times before?

 

[martx-5]

I heard on the radio this AM that it happened like this once before, but apparently a wikipedia article I read listed several other minor "deflations" over the years.

 

[NutmegCT]

nutmegct, didnt this same thing happen there a couple of times before?

Yep - air pressure can't support the Teflon-covered fabric through everything!

Five deflations so far:

https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/Metrodome.htm

https://mlb.mlb.com/min/ballpark/min_ballpark_history.jsp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubert_H._Humphrey_Metrodome#Deflations

T.

 

[TRMark]

I can understand this happening. Minneapolis rarely gets snow so it was probably not a consideration in the structures design.

 

[NutmegCT]

I can understand this happening. Minneapolis rarely gets snow so it was probably not a consideration in the structures design.

I'd bet that in the first year of school, all architects learn the phrase "Don't worry - we've accounted for that."

Edit: About 30 years ago, the University of Connecticut built a multi-storey cantilevered library. Soon as it opened to students, the outer walls began to collapse. Architects had forgotten to take into account the weight of the books (or the concrete itself) No one can pin down the problem.

T.

 

[JPSmit]

I heard on the radio this AM that it happened like this once before, but apparently a wikipedia article I read listed several other minor "deflations" over the years.

happens to a lot of men in middle age.