Redesigning O Neill cylinders

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "Combs, Mike"

> Now sure what you mean by "convenient". The torus is
less /efficient/
> in the building material to habitable area comparison.

True enough, I'd assumed you'd put the major "outdoor" deck on the
widest diameter of the torus tube, and have closed in areas at
higher radius from the rotational centre. In most designs I've seen,
the central cylinder maintains a stationary position.

> The most
> efficient shape is the sphere, which represents the maximum volume
> enclosed by the minimum surface area.

But also has lowest area at any one rotational gravity level. My own
favourite (on pure emotion) is a truncated sphere with huge glass
panes on both "flat" sides....a big, rounded disk.

> A cylinder with rounded end-caps
> is a departure which adds more level ground.

And is more stress resistant than a cylinder.....