There a means of designing a low cost, efficient load bearing plastic skylight based on the design stress of aged plastic material. The design would consist of either a relatively thin, dome shaped or flat plate skylight provided with an integral grid of flate plate stiffenters on the under side of the skylight.

If you wish for me to design such a skylight, I would do so, but would have to know the dimensions of the skylight, the design load and the design stress in tension and compression you would want to use?

Please let me know if you wish to discuss this further in greater detail.

Regards,

Alan Cross

Sounds very useful. I think that someone in the construction industry would be best to provide the inputs that you desire, although the current test requirements may suffice. I do research and teach, so I would not be involved in this, but perhaps the NIH SBIR program would provide funding for such a project.

Good luck!
Chris