Igloo Construction: Civil Engineering Principles and Arctic Ingenuity

Igloo Construction: Civil Engineering Principles and Arctic Ingenuity

Essay on Igloo Construction:

Inquiry

Task: Compose a comprehensive essay on igloo building, focusing on its civil engineering principles.

Response

Preface
In 1970, S. S. Manhattan was given the chance to examine the civil engineering features of an igloo. This event occurred when he was navigating an ice-breaking tanker. The crew encountered several Eskimos while halting their cruise for ice tests at the northern shore of Baffin Island. The Eskimos were amicable to the group and allowed them to examine their dwelling igloos. As the structure was situated above the snow level, assessing the civil engineering approaches was much more straightforward. Construction above the snow level is uncommon among the Eskimos, since the majority of edifices were erected in areas with significant snowfall, and most buildings were hewn from big blocks of ice or snow. The floors are lowered to provide more space in the structures. The team has examined many characteristics of the construction, including the density, material efficacy, and the overall structure. This article on igloo building considers the civil engineering and physics elements of snow architecture.

Arches and Domes
The notion of shells may be seen by the general populace as originating from contemporary building techniques, since the use of concrete has enabled the creation of thin-shelled structures. The slender-shelled structures include many geometric forms such as cones and domes. These structures may be traced back to the prehistoric past of humanity. Most structures in the medieval period had domes and round tops, seen as symbols of richness and success. It is important to acknowledge that the domes were constructed at a period when architects and experts vigorously discussed the increased likelihood of collapse associated with domes built by unskilled masonry. The primary cause of the failure of these domes or circular structures was the existence of elevated tensile ring stresses in the lower segment of the construction. The same idea might be inferred in the context of igloos, since they are shaped like inverted hollow hemispheres. The sides of the globe must be expanded as it descends; otherwise, the likelihood of structural collapse increases. The history of Roman culture reveals the significance of domes. This included various masonry buttresses, circumferential iron hoops, chains, and similar elements. The igloos constructed by the central Canadian Eskimos exhibit the form of perfect parabolas, so indicating the mathematical knowledge and skill of this demographic. The top portion of the igloo may be accurately described as a catenary. It is a Latin term that denotes the English word "chains." The structure atop the St. Louis Arch in Missouri, U.S.A. exemplifies a catenary quite well. The following statement delineates the coordinates for an optimal catenary.

y = a (cosh(x/a) - 1)
In this formula, the variable y denotes the height necessary for the catenary. The variable 'a' represents a constant, whereas 'x' denotes the horizontal distance.

 A shelter is essential in the frigid temperatures of tundra vegetation. It may also be noted that individuals in the tundra area construct fireplaces inside their homes to maintain warmth. Contemporary structures are constructed utilizing concrete and timber.

However, in the context of the Eskimos or Inuit, the situation differs significantly since they build their homes from snow or ice. One would find it somewhat ironic to make homes from ice in the frigid arctic environment. It may be surprising to learn that ice serves as a thermal insulator, aiding in maintaining warmth inside an igloo. In addition to igloos, one may also witness several other types of ice constructions inhabited by humans. Some of them are snow caves and quinzhees.

Igloos
This article on igloo building notes that igloos are mostly located in the northern geographical regions inhabited by the Eskimo or Inuit people. Based on the prevalent images and media sources, the reader may envision an igloo constructed from rectangular ice blocks. It should be noted that there is no definitive or universally accepted concept that they must be constructed only from ice chunks. The literal interpretation of "igloo" is a dwelling constructed from any material. The ice chunks are designed to retain a precise tilt. The resulting shape of the roof would resemble a dome. In most cases, little ventilation is included at the apex of the roof to facilitate airflow.

Ice Construction for Elevated Interior Temperatures
It was rather astonishing that a structure composed completely of ice is warmer within. One could ponder the rationale behind this igloo building article.

Contrary to our expectations, it is the ice itself that generates warmth inside the confines of the igloo. In the majority of recorded instances, igloos are made utilizing rectangular ice blocks. The rectangular blocks are positioned to create an interior chamber or hollow inside the adjacent blocks. The hollow is disclosed and cut out following the placement of the blocks. The igloos are multi-layered and hence do not possess a level surface. The absence of a smooth surface may be explained by the scientific principle that air density increases as temperature decreases. A similar phenomena occurs with the air confined inside the igloo hollow. The air in the bottom section of the igloo is denser due to its lower temperature relative to the air in the top section. This may create a cold trap at the lowest level of the hollow. It may thus be said that the building of an igloo adheres to the fundamental principles of physics. The temperature inside the igloo was recorded at a safe 61 degrees Fahrenheit, despite the surrounding conditions plummeting to -49 degrees Fahrenheit.

Building
As stated in the preceding portion of this igloo building essay, it is being built in the shape of an igloo. The igloo's walls would converge to create a closed apex at the top. To guarantee the absence of air gaps between the blocks and maintain adequate sealing, the outside walls are meticulously polished. The whole structure does not require external support and hence has the strength to endure alone. The snow becomes very dense in this state and could perhaps sustain an average person if they were to stand on the ceiling. It is important to remember that if the igloo is intended to be bigger, the lower section of the structure should be vertical to support the weight of the overlying snow, rather than conforming to a parabolic or arched shape. During the preliminary stage of igloo building, the ice bricks are positioned in a spiral or circular configuration. To create an upward spiral, more snow blocks are stacked on top of one another. Ultimately, the whole construction would represent a self-sustaining dome capable of encapsulating substantial area inside. Readers should recognize that new snow is very brittle and hence lacks inherent strength. Therefore, newly fallen snow is not used in the construction of an igloo. If the snow had little density, constructing an igloo by arranging the snow bricks in a dome form would be very difficult. The igloo's inner wall begins to dissolve upon human habitation. The temperature inside the igloo is much greater than that of the exterior environment. The melted ice will refreeze when not in use. This would enhance insulation from the external environment and augment the structural integrity. This technique creates an extra layer inside the igloo's interior structure. It can thus be observed that although snow is used to create the igloo, it is the subsequent creation of ice that imparts genuine strength to the whole structure.

Extensive observation in this igloo building essay reveals that igloos are mostly built in three sizes to fulfill various functions. A little igloo likely serves as a transient refuge for a hunter traversing considerable distances for sustenance, whether from the sea or land. The medium-sized igloos are temporary structures that may accommodate a maximum of two families. These are medium-sized igloos located in a community inside the tundra area. The last category, namely the bigger igloos, is constructed by linking many igloos by tunnels, with some designated for habitation and others for hosting events.

Quinzhee
Unlike the creation of an igloo, a quinzhee is created by cutting or excavating into a substantial accumulation of snow. The procedure would create a human shelter by forming a hollow chamber. They are designed for temporary occupancy, hence less emphasis is placed on finishing details. In the case of an igloo, it is constructed using particular snow bricks, which are then polished to provide a semi-transparent quality. Consequently, more work is required to create an igloo than to build a Quinzhee.

As stated in the preceding portion of this igloo building article, quinzhees are temporary shelters, and hence the need for deeper snow is not prioritized as it is with igloos. The building of a quinzhee is far easier and more straightforward than that of an igloo. Although the building of a quinzhee is straightforward, it is less resilient under severe circumstances and is more prone to collapse than igloos constructed by the Eskimos. The reduced density of the snow around the quinzhee's perimeter heightens the likelihood of its collapse in severe conditions. Factors like as quality and aesthetics are disregarded in the construction of a quinzhee due to time constraints and its ephemeral nature.

Snow cavern
The technique for constructing a snow cave involves excavating or cutting into snow or glacial formations. The same method of maintaining a much lower entrance compared to the main area is used as in the igloo. This method would assist in confining warm air inside the cave. The snow cave serves as a temporary structure while the quinzhee is being constructed. The snow caves can sustain an optimal temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, even when the surrounding temperature drops to -40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Glacial Cavern
These caves are naturally occurring and not the result of artificial construction or human interference. The natural flow of water under glaciers results in the construction of glacier caves. The glaciers tend to melt when temperatures rise significantly, leading to the accumulation of water in ice crevices. Due to the relatively greater temperature of the melted ice, the volume of the ice fracture will progressively expand. The processes of melting and erosion contribute to the expansion of cracks into fully formed glacier caves. The significant rise in temperature due to global warming has accelerated ice melting, resulting in the collapse of naturally occurring glacier caves.

Hazards
The ice structures inherently possess considerable risk and hazard. The integrity and strength are affected even with the introduction of a little ventilation component to the ice structure. The likelihood of hazard would considerably elevate the dome's diameter over the 10-foot threshold. If precise measurements and calculations are not adhered to during dome construction, the structure is likely to collapse. This article on igloo building indicates that a quinzhee has the greatest likelihood of destruction. The quinzhee's encircling walls, composed of very low-density snow, are prone to rapid melting. The igloos are constructed from denser, robust snow blocks, which diminishes the danger possibility. With continual use, the inner wall of the igloo would evolve into a thick layer of ice, so enhancing the structural strength and integrity of the whole edifice. The mortality rate is significantly elevated for those living in quinzhees.