Los huracanes son cada vez más frecuentes y destructivos. Una empresa, Deltec Homes, ofrece una solución construyendo casas redondas, aerodinámicas y resistentes a los huracanes. El director de ingeniería explica cómo lo hacen.

Asheville

A company in Asheville, North Carolina, has developed round homes that are specifically engineered to resist hurricane-force winds. The homes, produced by DelTec, feature reinforced windows, extra-thick sheathing, and a circular design that helps distribute wind pressure more evenly compared to traditional rectangular houses. DelTec reports a 99% success rate for their homes against hurricanes, with structures designed to withstand winds up to 190 miles per hour.

The circular architecture, inspired by both modern engineering and historical designs, allows for more connected support points and reduces the force of wind on any single wall. While DelTec is a prominent builder, other options like monolithic domes also offer weather-resistant features. Despite their strength, the company emphasizes that no home is entirely hurricane-proof, but these designs offer significant resistance.

Cómo sobreviven a los huracanes estas casas redondas

Así que en realidad probar estas ventanas y disparar dos por cuatro en ellos como un misil justo en la ventana. Esas ventanas se agrietarán y eso está bien, pero la intención es que esas ventanas no implosionen en la estructura y permitan la intrusión del viento en la casa. Hemos construido más de 5.000 casas. Tenemos un 99% de éxito contra huracanes. Los huracanes son cada vez más extremos y más probables. Más de 33 millones de hogares en los EE.UU. están en riesgo. riesgo moderado o mayor de sufrir daños por vientos huracanados. Así que tenemos que replantearnos cómo enfocar las viviendas en zonas de alto riesgo. Una solución ha venido de una empresa llamada DelTec con sus casas redondas resistentes a los huracanes. Fundada en 1968, DelTec se propuso un objetivo diferente. El sector turístico buscaba un espacio único para sus clientes. Empezamos a darnos cuenta de que nuestras casas eran realmente resistentes a los vientos. Ahora las casas se construyen según las especificaciones aquí en Asheville, Carolina del Norte, antes de ser enviadas a todo el mundo para ser ensambladas in situ. Sí, podemos cocinar bastante bien. Podemos poner dos casas a la vez. DelTec dice que usan revestimientos extra gruesos, madera probada a máquina, barreras contra la intemperie. Esto es para prevenir que la humedad entre en la casa. Pero la empresa dice que lo que hace tan especiales a sus casas redondas es su resistencia natural al viento. Una casa rectangular suele tener una pared larga y plana. Todo ese viento choca contra esa pared plana y no puede ir a ninguna parte. Y está ejerciendo mucha fuerza sobre la casa. Sabes, nuestra casa está siendo redonda. Sabes, puedes verlo como si tuvieras una lata de refresco y soplaras aire a través de ella. Se curva alrededor de la casa y no está empujando toda esa fuerza en el hogar. Un huracán de categoría 5, por ejemplo, creo que supera las 156 millas por hora. Estamos diseñando nuestras casas para hasta 190 millas por hora. Y eso es una ráfaga de tres segundos. Así que mantener el techo es, obviamente, su trabajo número uno, ¿verdad? Así que todas las cerchas se unen en ese centro radial, como los radios de una rueda. Su diseño circular crea más puntos de apoyo conectados, lo que ayuda a repartir la tensión de las fuerzas del viento de manera más uniforme. Deltek afirma que sus cubiertas son casi tres veces más resistentes al viento que las rectangulares. Construimos cada casa según las condiciones del lugar. Es todo como piezas de Lego, juntando diferentes componentes para crear lo que necesitas. Las casas con riesgo de inundación, por ejemplo, pueden elevarse. Desde la personalización hasta el ahorro potencial en seguros y costes energéticos, los compradores tienen mucho que considerar, incluido el precio de la vivienda en sí. El sitio web de Deltek ofrece viviendas desde 200.000 hasta más de 2 millones de dólares. Y Deltek no es la única opción para una casa redonda o resistente a la intemperie. Las cúpulas monolíticas son conocidas por su diseño de hormigón único y resistente a la intemperie, mientras que la arquitectura circular se encuentra a lo largo de la historia y se remonta a la Edad de Bronce. Aunque nuestras casas son muy resistentes, no hay ninguna casa a prueba de huracanes. Nuestras casas son a prueba de huracanes y cualquier cosa puede pasar con la madre naturaleza.

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