Qatar uses 3D printers to make World Cup stadiums ‘desert-proof’
Scientists at Qatar University are testing 3D-printed models of football stadiums that Qatar is building for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to see if they can endure the Arabian Gulf state's punishing desert climate.
While Qatar’s original bid to host world football’s largest event was based on games being played in ‘air-conditioned’ stadiums, concerns over Qatar’s summer heat led to the competition being moved to the cooler month of November
However, Qatar still experiences sand and dust storms in its (northern hemisphere) winter months and also wantings the stadiums to be used all year round beyond the 2022 tournament, a team from Europe and the Middle East are exploring how the stadiums can be adapted to handle sand storms and searing heat.
Qatar University engineering professor, Saud Ghani explained “we're looking at aerodynamics, how changing the shape of the stadium affects the dust, heat and wind inside.
"Qatar wants venues that can be used all year. They don't want white elephants."
The 3D-printed stadiums, which take about a month to assemble, are placed in a wind tunnel that blows smoke-filled air tracked by laser beams across the design to measure turbulence inside.
The impact of sand storms, which occur occasionally in Qatar during the winter months, could be mitigated by raising or lowering the stadium height by a few metres, Professor Ghani explained, adding “the idea is to stop hot wind getting in. Like an open-top car, you want air flying over not swirling inside.”
Qatar has announced details of five of at least eight stadiums it must build or renovate for the FIFA World Cup at an estimated cost of up to US$10 billion.
The Qatar University engineers have run tests on two stadiums - Al Bayt and Al Wakrah, designed by the late British architect Zaha Hadid.
A model of the upcoming Al Thumama Stadium is now being printed for testing.
Balancing architectural character - like the sweeping Bedouin tent design for the Al Bayt stadium - with efficient aerodynamics can sometimes be tricky, said 24-year-old engineer Fahad al-Musalam.
Musalam concluded "each stadium has a message to convey and we need to preserve that character.”
3D printing has been used by engineers to build prototypes for decades but has recently become more widespread, with uses including the production of dental crowns and light aircraft parts.
Images: The planned interior of Qatar's planned Al Wakrah Stadium - being built for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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