Over the last few decades, 3D-printing technology has been used by engineers to create new products in new and innovative ways with all new materials. Recently, this innovative field has exponentially become more widespread, especially in the sports world.
Engineers in Qatar have began making more innovations within the 3D-printing sports space. It was recently reported by Reuters Canada that scientists at Qatar University are testing 3D-printed models of football stadiums to see if they can endure the Gulf state’s pulverizing desert climate. Due to concerns involving Qatar’s intense summer heat, the 2022 World Cup’s stadium, for the first time in history, will be staged in November and December to avoid the summer heat.
Unfortunately, Qatar still experiences sand and dust storms in the winter months, so the Qatar University team is exploring how the stadiums can be adapted to bustling sand storms and scorching heat. Saud Ghani, a Qatar University engineering professor, wants the stadiums to be used far beyond the 2022 tournament.
“Qatar wants venues that can be used all year. They don’t want white elephants,” commented Ghani.
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This is why the research team has begun assembling 3D-printed stadiums, which take about a month to create. In order to test their resilience, the models are placed in a wind tunnel that blows smoke-filled air tracked by laser beams across the design to measure turbulence inside.
This is not a first for trial running in the 3D-printing sports world. Not too long ago, many sports clothing companies including Adidas began integrating this technology into their marketing strategy. Their goal was to allow consumers to go on a brief run in a new shoe while their foot-scanning technologies mapped out footprints, pressure points, and intricate curves of the runner’s foot to provide every customer with a perfect fit. Using similar technology to gauge the durability of these new stadiums is imperative, as building one is estimated to cost between $8-$10 billion.
Two tests have even been run on 3D-printed stadiums, Al Bayt and Al Wakrah, in order to see if it could take the simulated weather conditions. A model of the upcoming Al Thumama Stadium is now being printed for testing as well.
“Each stadium has a message to convey and we need to preserve that character,” said Fahad al-Musalam, a 24-year-old engineer.
Clearly, these various tests on 3D-printed stadiums are invaluable to the Qatar engineering team. Without this innovative technology, making an attempt at building the stadium outright with no simulated weather conditions could ultimately cost insurmountable amounts of money if the sweltering desert conditions proved to be too detrimental.
With each test, Qatar will get closer and closer to building the perfect stadium for the 2022 World Cup and many more sporting events to come.