Editing Pykrete (section)

===After World War II===
[[File:Ice Dome - foto Bart van Overbeeke 28453.jpg|thumb|Construction of a pykrete-reinforced ice dome by [[Eindhoven University of Technology]]]]
[[File:Ice Dome - foto Bart van Overbeeke 28484.jpg|thumb|Daytime view of the ice dome]]
Since World War II, pykrete has remained a scientific curiosity, unexploited by research or construction of any significance. However, new concepts for pykrete crop up occasionally among architects, engineers and [[futurist]]s, usually regarding its potential for mammoth offshore construction or its improvement by applying super-strong materials such as synthetic [[Composite material|composites]] or [[Kevlar]].

In 1985, pykrete was considered for a [[quay]] in [[Oslo]] harbour. However, the idea was later shelved, considering pykrete's unreliability in the real-world environment.<ref>{{cite news |title=A New Chip Off an Old Block |first=Paul |last=Breeze |work=The Guardian |date=1985-08-01 |page=13}}</ref> Since pykrete needs to be preserved at or below freezing point, and tends to sag under its own weight at temperatures above {{convert|-15|C|F}}, an alternative was considered that would guarantee effectiveness and public safety.<ref name="Max Perutz OM"/>

In 2011, the [[Vienna University of Technology]] successfully built a pykrete ice dome, measuring {{convert|10|m}} in diameter in the Austrian village of [[Obergurgl]]. They improved on an original Japanese technique of spraying ice on a balloon by using the natural properties of ice and its strength. This structure managed to stand for three months before sunlight started melting the ice, rendering the structure unreliable.<ref name="livescience.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.livescience.com/11704-austria-imbibe-ice-dome.html |title=In Austria, Imbibe in the New Ice Dome |website=[[Live Science]] |date=2 February 2011 |access-date=18 March 2018}}</ref> Researcher Johann Kollegger of [[Vienna University of Technology]] thinks his team's alternative new method is easier, avoiding icy sprayback onto the workers. To build their freestanding structure, Kollegger and his colleagues first cut an {{convert|8|in|adj=on}} plate of ice into 16 segments. To sculpt the segments to have a dome-like curve, the researchers relied on ice's [[Creep (deformation)|creep]] behavior. If pressure is applied to ice, it slowly changes its shape without breaking. One of the mechanisms by which glaciers move, called glacial creep, functions similarly, the researchers say.<ref name="livescience.com"/>

In 2014, the [[Eindhoven University of Technology]] worked on a pykrete architecture project in [[Juuka]], Finland, which included an ice dome and a pykrete scale model of the [[Sagrada Família|Sagrada Familia]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.structuralice.com/sagrada-familia-in-ice.html |title=Sagrada Familia in ice |access-date=18 October 2014 |website=structuralice.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908011733/http://www.structuralice.com/sagrada-familia-in-ice.html |archive-date=8 September 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> They attempted to build the largest ice dome in the world. Due to human error, the plug to a compressor that kept the balloon inflated was pulled, leading to the balloon deflating. The team of Dutch students quickly re-inflated the balloon, and resprayed the part of the dome that had collapsed. They continued with their construction, and eventually opened the dome to the public. However within a matter of days the roof caved in; there were no visitors on the site at the time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/maailman_suurimman_jaakupolin_katosta_romahti_pala_juuassa/7056718 |title=Maailman suurimman jääkupolin katosta romahti pala Juuassa |website=Yle Uutiset |date=28 January 2014 |language=fi|trans-title=A piece of ice collapsed from the roof of the world's largest ice cap|access-date=18 March 2018}}</ref>