Arup has integrated Bentley solutions with third-party software to lead the structural engineering design of the world’s tallest Ferris wheel.
The observation Ferris wheel was completed in Las Vegas.
The Haoke Ferris Wheel, standing at 168 meters tall, is a new landmark in the shopping, leisure, and entertainment district of Las Vegas, Nevada. It features 28 spherical cabins supported by circular wheels, accommodating up to 1,120 people. Riders enjoy an immersive experience with sound, light, and shadow effects, while taking in breathtaking views of the city. Arup was appointed by Caesars Entertainment Corporation as the lead engineering firm for this $550 million development. Their scope included structural, geotechnical, mechanical, and electrical engineering, along with acoustic and fire safety consulting services for the Ferris wheel located opposite the Caesars Palace Hotel.
Bentley Structural Modeler served as the primary Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, seamlessly integrating with other applications and playing a critical role in the 3D coordination and project delivery process.
Meeting High Expectations
The Haoke Ferris Wheel opened to the public in March 2014, achieving the client’s goal of surpassing the London Eye and Singapore Ferris Wheel to become the tallest observation wheel in the world. With a diameter of 161 meters and a designed lifespan of 50 years, the wheel is engineered to rotate up to 650,000 times. It features an anti-fatigue structural design capable of withstanding concentrated stress on bearings, steel structures, cables, and accessories during the rotation of its 28 cabins.
Each cabin weighs 44,000 pounds and supports passengers for continuous 30-minute rides. To maximize panoramic views, the design minimizes the number of visible wheel components and support structures within the field of view. The Ferris wheel uses tensioned spokes and a unique single ring maintained in compression. Through detailed stress analysis, all components related to power, communication, lighting, and safety have been optimized. Before finalizing construction drawings, every component and support was modeled in Bentley Structural Modeler.
The limited site space posed significant challenges. Located above a road next to the monorail, available positions for support legs were restricted. After thorough analysis, Arup designed four slanting support legs, each 2.8 meters in diameter, connected by a transverse link across the road to support the hub. This diagonal design provides adequate width for the cables to act as an efficient lateral system while minimizing the structural footprint.
Wind tunnel testing predicted requirements for wind-induced vibration and damping. As a result, the support legs include thirteen tuned mass dampers to mitigate vibrations that could negatively affect passenger comfort.
Innovative Cabin Design
As the Ferris wheel rotates, passengers experience a sensation of floating. The spherical cabins showcase a striking architectural design, offering spacious interiors and unobstructed views. However, maintaining a comfortable climate inside the cabins posed a challenge, given desert temperatures and solar radiation.
Arup optimized the cabin’s air conditioning and glass assembly by installing double-layer glass panels on the spherical surfaces, reducing the power demand of the air conditioning system and maintaining a comfortable environment.
Choosing the Right Tools
Arup tackled the project’s challenges by leveraging a variety of software tools tailored to specific needs. Early conceptual modeling employed McNeel’s Rhinoceros free-form surface software for its speed and accuracy. For simplified beam element analysis, they used GSA Suite, a structural design and analysis software developed by Oasys, a software company within Arup.
For complex BIM applications, Bentley Structural Modeler was the preferred choice. As the project evolved, Arup incorporated additional programs to enhance the workflow.
During the conceptual stage, the clear geometric structure of the Ferris wheel enabled Arup to create a parametric model using Bentley’s GenerativeComponents. This relational parameter modeling system automates the design process and accelerates iterations by adjusting all geometric variables. The model was then exported to GSA Suite for structural analysis.
Analysis revealed stress fluctuations in various parts of the Ferris wheel during operation, particularly in the wheel rim, which experiences the highest stress at the 6 o’clock position and the lowest at 12 o’clock. Arup utilized the LS-DYNA finite element analysis program developed by Livermore Software Technology Corporation to build a detailed model that mapped stress distribution after each rotation.
Data interoperability between software applications was essential for accurately calculating fatigue stresses. The detailed wheel rim model, which includes every screw, pipe, lighting fixture, and access hatch, was created in Rhinoceros, transferred to Structural Modeler for design, imported into Altair HyperMesh for finite element preprocessing, and finally analyzed in LS-DYNA. This iterative process highlighted stress hotspots requiring reduction.
Coordinated 3D Design
Bentley Structural Modeler was used to consolidate outputs from all third-party software into a single coordinated global model. Even complex manufacturing models created in Dassault Systemes’ SolidWorks were smoothly imported via the Parasolid format.
The overall coordination model was exported to Autodesk Navisworks, facilitating project review. By regularly updating the Navisworks model and improving usability for designers, Arup enhanced collaboration with teams responsible for other project components.
This fully integrated and shared geometric model fostered cross-disciplinary coordination, enabling early detection and resolution of dimensional conflicts before manufacturing, saving both time and money. During on-site inspections of steel components, engineers used Bentley Navigator Mobile on Apple iPads, eliminating the need for paper drawings.
Arup also relied on Bentley’s AECOsim Building Designer to document the project. AECOsim is a comprehensive BIM application that supports multidisciplinary teams in designing, analyzing, constructing, documenting, and visualizing buildings of any scale or complexity. Dynamic viewing tools allowed Arup to create detailed views of each Ferris wheel component, accelerating workflows and helping meet tight deadlines.
Durability and Precision
Structural Modeler was the primary BIM tool for the Haoke Ferris Wheel, providing the precision required to construct such a complex and irregular structure. Stephen Corney, a senior BIM technician at Arup, explained, “3D modeling is essential for integrating all customized components. The interoperability of Bentley products with other software promotes collaboration across the project team. The ability to import and export diverse file formats from consultants is critical for 3D coordination and project delivery.”
The structural design not only emphasizes efficiency but also ensures exceptional fatigue resistance for this gravity-driven amusement ride. Designed for 50 years of operation at 18 hours per day, the detailed engineering accounts for fatigue resistance at every weld, penetration, and attachment point. The Haoke Ferris Wheel stands as a permanent engineering landmark and a world-class attraction on the Las Vegas Strip.
Excerpt from a Speech
“Structural Modeler provides design teams with the flexibility and accuracy required for design analysis and production.”
– Rob Smith, Deputy Director, Arup
Image: Arup Corporation – Las Vegas High Roller Ferris Wheel Project Image
Creating integrated, shareable geometric models encourages collaboration among diverse disciplines and companies.
©2014 Bentley Systems, Incorporated. Bentley, the Bentley logo “B”, Bentley AECOsim Building Designer, GenerativeComponents, Bentley Navigator Mobile, Bentley Structural Modeler, and Bentley Systems, Incorporated, along with their wholly-owned subsidiaries, are registered or unregistered trademarks or service marks. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.
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