Artificial rock design is a discipline that puts structural engineering at the service of the creative reproduction of nature. When Amusement Logic approaches the design of artificial rocks for any of its projects, be it a theme park, a water park, a campsite, a hotel or resort, a shopping centre or any other attraction for leisure and tourism, the structural engineers consider a series of crucial aspects: height, shape and loads are some of them.
In terms of design, artificial rocks are planned and modelled to suit each of these projects, in other words, according to the particular story they tell, the function they perform or the space available to them. Their construction involves a combination of skills and technologies. From three-dimensional computer modelling and design, or structural engineering solutions, to the experience and talent of highly skilled sculptural artists.
Artificial rock construction begins with the supporting, or primary structure, the fundamental purpose of which is to resist the applied loads and transfer them to the supports without incompatible deformation. These loads include self-weight loads, in other words, the weight of the structure and the rocks themselves, rheological loads, due to the deformation of the materials over time, and the working load. To these are added the loads due to the effects of temperature and its consequences of thermal expansion and contraction, wind, snow, earthquakes and others.
In any case, the design of the artificial rock structure must be determined for the most unfavourable possible combination of loads. For this purpose, designers and engineers take into account three fundamental aspects:
–Strength: or the admissible load of material on the artificial rocks which must not be exceeded to avoid breakage of the section.
–Structural stability: the structure must behave, as a rigid solid, according to the static equations, under external influences and under its own weight.
–Limited deformation: the deformations of the structure must be kept within certain limits.
Whether it is to create a garden with a rocky, rustic look, a grotto or a swimming pool with waterfalls, these structures fit the narrative of the project, whether in theme parks, water parks, campsites, hotels or resorts, in shopping centres or any other leisure and tourism attraction. It is essential to combine experience and technical and artistic knowledge, as Amusement Logic does.
By Raúl Soriano, senior modeller in the Architecture Department at Amusement Logic
