How does a bicycle-wheel roof support a large stadium roof?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor — Stadium Aerial view of Michigan Stadium, home to the gridiron football team of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

A bicycle-wheel roof supports a large stadium by utilizing a system of radiating tension cables arranged in two layers. These layers are separated by small compression struts and connect an inner tension ring to an outer compression ring, which is supported by columns.1

This structural design is considered a funicular form, which is highly efficient for covering long spans in stadium architecture. By distributing forces through tension and compression members, the bicycle-wheel configuration provides the necessary rigidity to support the roof's weight across vast open spaces.1