Large Prefabricated Thin-Faced Sandwich Elements for Antennae Coverage

The design, testing and installation of prefabricated sandwich elements for coverage of the telecommunications antennae on Mount Säntis, Switzerland, are presented. The prefabricated elements measured 6 m x 6.6 m, were 101 mm thick, and had a dome-like shell in the middle. The diameter of the base of the shell was 5 m, its rise was 600 mm, and the thickness of the two facings was less than 0.5 mm. The experimental investigations included material bending and wrinkling tests, and tests of the whole structural element. In the latter, elements were subjected to statically simulated wind pressure and wind suction. An account of the production, transport and installation of the elements is also given.