Arch tunnel type structure - advice?

[griffin]

I'm thinking of building a structure based on arches made out of PVC. The idea is to connect several 30' pvc arches to make a long tunnel like shade structure. I was then going to cover it with shade mesh, to allow it to breath a little more than a tarp would. I would think that would help in the wind, plus I hate how noisy tarps get in the wind. Has anybody tried this, or know somebody that has. It seems so simple, but nothing is simple on the playa. I would appreciate all thoughts and ideas.

[robotland]

Do you mean 30' end-to-end of each arch? That's BIG! The flexibility of PVC tubing that makes it good in somewhat smaller structures may play against you with such a biggee, since you're asking it to hold up lots of yards of shade stuff. I assume you're linking shorter sections together to make the arches, which under many circumstances reduces their strength. Try this: Mock up your structure, at least making 2 or 3 arches, and then draping some tarpage over them while observing the results. I've made numerous quick storage bunkers for farm equipment and temporary greenhouses with this method, driving scrap 1/2" conduit into the ground to put the PVC struts over and securing tarps with ball bungees or zipstrips. I always add a couple of horizontal PVC supports, fastened to each arch. The arches themselves are under two feet apart, mostly. If you build these quonset hut-looking things inline with the prevailing winds then most of the energy just trucks on through, and in sidelong gusts the structure shimmies back and forth. I don't bother guying these down, since the tension of the PVC over the conduit holds them fairly well, but on the Playa a single gust would prove ruinous if you don't.
Check out the Image Gallery for camp structures- there are pics of PVC structures of some size, but many are more domelike.

[Guest]

among others, the magic glasses folks do something like this; you may want to track them down.

http://images.burningman.com/index.cgi?image=5989

[griffin]

I assume you're linking shorter sections together to make the arches, which under many circumstances reduces their strength.

I was planning on using 10' lengths with connectors and reinforcing them in the typical layering way. I'd like to end up with a shaded area of about 15' by 20' or bigger. I put on bingo games in my camp, so I have about twenty people sitting at a time, plus a bar, plus prizes, plus room for those of us putting on the games. It is merely a gaming/socializing area, no tents or cars or kitchens will be involved with this structure.

I thought about the weight issue too, I may put center supports in it. Magic Eyes camp uses a small version of what I'd like to do. Theirs must be pretty strong to hold all those lights.

[III]

>>10' lengths with connectors

those connectors are meant to connnect em together so water will flow, not to support a moment load (especially if you don't glue them). i've had much more luck using a close fitting dowel inside the two pieces.

be ready to guy the hoops to each other, and to the ground at the ends.

and make sureyou use something of decent diameter - 2" seems to be the common recommendation.

[RouseMouse]

I said this else where , but applies here Too. I prefer the conduit which will bend rather than break, (take extra connectors), and it can be bent back streight if needed.

Our 2002 shade was a 20 x 30 tarp held over 3 (use 4or5) bowed conduit ribs each made with 3 10' sticks of conduit held with standard connectors with cross bars lashed with bailing wire to them at each connector and center of each span making a quansit hut frame for the tarp to be held over and lashed to. the tarp was also then trapped between two boards (nail the 1x2s together with the tarp between them)
on each 20' end and the boards staked down with candy cane rebar stakes making a 20' x 20'- shelter.
we used 1/2 inch conduit , but lashed the center to my truck rack. If you use 3/4 or 1" you'd want to
pre bow it ( about a foot and a half to 2 foot deflection over the length depending on the width and
hight of the tent you want ) , but it would be more secure on it's own. our current structure is bigger
and uses 1/2" conduit.

I'm now tempted to to get a 40?+ x 60+?- WHITE tarp and make a frame with 4?+ 1"?+ x 10' conduits (pre bowed) per rib and a rib every 5 feet with a cross bar of 6 conduits connectored together and lashed (with wire) at each rib connector , possibly one between each connector , and with the tarp screwed/nailed down at the edges with the two boards and stakes, and maybe tiedown ropes at the ends, and.. this could get ridiculusly large , anyone into zeplins?

[polzicons]

Griffin, a key but easily overlooked part of your original message was the fact that you wanted to cover your structure with 'mesh' vs. tarp...that changes everything! Since tarps are no different then sails, a Tarped structure must be more heavily reinforced and lashed down. If you used "garden plant mesh" the wind would blow thru a lot easier and IMHO you could get away with a bigger/flimsier confabulation of curved PVC.
I've never used that mesh but have seen it in use. Maybe using several layers would give the desired level of shade. I bet it would have great ventilation! Downside: you'd be eating playa dust. But you did say the tents and kitchen would be located elsewhere...Go for it! -POL

[griffin]

I'm still kicking around the mesh idea. It is much more expensive, but it seems like it would work great, for a made shaded area. The drawbacks are that shade is not 100% and either is dust protection. But our shade structure was really stuffy last year. I think the breathability would be nice, not to mention, make it more wind resistant.

[RouseMouse]

Was just thinking ,
If you had a 10' tarp on each side and a 10' net ceiling,
the tarp would keep out most low ground dust and the net would vent the heat out.
just a thought,
Rouse

[eapvar]

It sounds like you want to do what we've done for the last two years. We've created a Quonset hut using three 1 1/4" x 10' pvc held together by the tension of 3' x 1" inserts. These form the "ribs" of the hut. Each rib should be joined with the others along the ridge and half way up as well. You can add as many ribs as you like to this structure. I have jpg plans or Adobe Illustrator plans if you're interested. We've used blue tarps and spaced the ribs 11.5' apart. I thought the next step would also to use Aluminet on top of the tarps to cut down daytime temps.

[desertbeing]

I'd love to get the plans for one of these arches supported by PVC if that's still an option.
thank you!

[gaminwench]

use google; search eplaya + monkey hut

[JayBobBoy]

Ahhh new people....

Um this post is over 10 years old....

[theCryptofishist]

Back before monkey huts?

[Elorrum]

back before Monkey Love huts.