Design Considerations for a Rotating Retractable Stadium Roof

摘要

This thesis presents a novel type of retractable roof, adapting the pivot-based retraction system used in Miller Park to a stadium without a circular geometry. Existing stadiums with retractable roofs are reviewed, and lessons learned are used to present theoretical structural engineering design for a roof truss and recommendations for carriers. The presented concept likely requires light-weight structural systems and closely-spaced roof trusses to minimize loads on roof carriers. Actual mechanical designs of the roof carriers are quite complex as they must be able to roll in two directions and pivot about a third. The design herein is incomplete for real-world application but can inform future designers about considerations for the presented architecture.