¶ Dimpling Effect
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Index Entry
Dimpling Effect:
"When a concentrated load is applied (toward the center) of any vertex of any triangulated system, it tends to cause a dimpling effect. As the frequency or complexity of successive structures increase, the dimpling becomes progressively more localized, and proportionately less force is required to bring it about.
"To illustrate dimpling in various structures, we can visualize the tetrahedron, octahedron, and icosahedron made out of steel rods with rubber joints. Being thin and flexible, they will bend and yield under pressure.
“Tetra: Beginning with the tetrahedron as the minimum system, it clearly will require proportionately greater force to create a ‘dent.’ In order to dimple, the tetrahedron will have to turn itself completely inside out with no localized effect in evidence. Thus the dimpling forces a complete change in the entire structure. The tetrahedron has the greatest resistance. of any structure to externally applied concentrated load. It is the only system that can turn itself inside out. Other systems can have very large dimples, but they are still local. Even a hemispherical dimple is still a dimple and still local.”
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