3d Printers Help Qatar Make Stadiums Desert Proof
To help prepare for the hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, scientists at Qatar University are testing 3D-printed models of football stadiums to see if they can endure the desert climate.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be the first time in history the global tournament will be staged in November and December to avoid the summer heat in the country. To ease concerns over its summer heat, it also announced five stadiums with built-in air conditioning.
However, Qatar still experiences dust and sand storms in the winter and is looking for the stadiums to be used beyond the tournament. The research team have begun assembling the 3D-printed stadiums, which will take around a month to create and tested in a wind tunnel that blows smoke filled air tracked by laser beams to measure turbulence inside.
The Qatar University engineers have run tests on two stadiums – Al Bayt and Al Wakrah, designed by late British architect Zaha Hadid. At present a model of the upcoming Al Thumama Stadium is now being printed for testing.
Saud Ghani, Qatar University engineering professor said: “We’re looking at aerodynamics, how changing the shape of the stadium affects the dust, heat and wind inside.
“Qatar wants venues that can be used all year. They don’t want white elephants. The idea is to stop hot wind getting in. Like an open-top car, you want air flying over not swirling inside.”
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