So…
Add this onto the list of cool things I design!
My engineering firm may be designing a replacement for these huge “roof petals” over the top of a waterslide in Atlantis in the Bahamas! Apparently they're currently made of steel and rusting ALOT. The client would like to do it in welded aluminum (which won't corrode as bad near the water), but I have reservations as to how effective that would be. I also would want to see some cables or bracing added to the system; I'm not comfortable with hanging these 20-ft petals over everyone's head by themselves. Also, the biggest problem with aluminum is that when you weld it, it becomes weaker. This means the end product could be ALOT larger than the steel you see in these pictures. I would prefer to make it out of stainless steel, being sure to heat-treat the welds afterwards (stainless steel is composed of chromium, which is displaced when welded; heat-treating the weld restores the chromium which is stainless steel's main helper to resist corrosion).
Maybe I’ll just charge them a couple nights stay!!
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