>> I was thinking more of size & Function than construction. Mostly because I was thinking in terms of what "services"/"functions" would be needed. <<
That depends on what you want to use it for, and how long.
* The smallest shelters are meant for 1-2 people to huddle in during a storm. I think the storm porches are especially clever. These are often just barren lockers. I find this inadvisable, because emergencies are a lot worse without amenities. I recommend at least a camp toilet, an emergency-caliber first aid kit, nonperishable food and bottled water, and entertainment (books, cards, dice, etc.).
* The next step up is small shelters meant for several people to spend hours to a few days in, for example, hurricane shelters. These typically have bunk beds and a toilet, occasionally also a kitchenette.
* Medium shelters are designed for a family or other group to spend longer time in. They are basically tiny apartments with sleeping space, living space, kitchen, bathroom, and lots of storage for resources. One nice thing about a tube is that after you've built a flat floor in it, you can use the underfloor space for storage.
* Large shelters are designed for many people to spend a long time in. Some have individual modules like the above, while others put the sleeping and dining space together like dorms do. These shelters add extra facilities such as greenhouses, gyms, libraries, classrooms, clinics, arsenals, motor pools, etc. The more people it holds, the more it needs to resemble a buried village.
>>Regarding dome construction, I recall an article from the 60s or early 70s that noted in some places the building code only let dome homes have 2 floors because of the slanting walls. So the second floor was ridiculously high ceilinged.<<
Most building codes don't allow domes at all, or indeed, any type of alternative building. So most domes are built in places with loose or no codes.
It's less about the code than the nature of the dome itself. Curvature means the second story will always be much smaller than the first. Getting more than 2 stories is extremely difficult. It makes more sense to dig down, if you're in an area where a basement is feasible, or to build sideways for extra space.
It is possible to make dome-ish buildings taller by putting a straight wall at the bottom, so for instance you might make a 3-4 story apartment tower with a domed top. But that sacrifices durability.
>> These strike me as good for some weather conditions. The shallower the angle with which the edge of the dome meets the ground, the less wind resistance there is (or the less wave resistance :-)
Those exist. Very wide, flattened domes are often used for gymnasiums or warehouses, although they tend to have a low straight sidewall.
>>Sections of oblate and prolate spheroids might have their uses as well.<<
There are a few oval or ring-shaped dome homes. More common are those with 2-3 domes butted together for extra space, and they are nearly a durable as single domes.
Re: Well ...
That depends on what you want to use it for, and how long.
* The smallest shelters are meant for 1-2 people to huddle in during a storm. I think the storm porches are especially clever. These are often just barren lockers. I find this inadvisable, because emergencies are a lot worse without amenities. I recommend at least a camp toilet, an emergency-caliber first aid kit, nonperishable food and bottled water, and entertainment (books, cards, dice, etc.).
* The next step up is small shelters meant for several people to spend hours to a few days in, for example, hurricane shelters. These typically have bunk beds and a toilet, occasionally also a kitchenette.
* Medium shelters are designed for a family or other group to spend longer time in. They are basically tiny apartments with sleeping space, living space, kitchen, bathroom, and lots of storage for resources. One nice thing about a tube is that after you've built a flat floor in it, you can use the underfloor space for storage.
* Large shelters are designed for many people to spend a long time in. Some have individual modules like the above, while others put the sleeping and dining space together like dorms do. These shelters add extra facilities such as greenhouses, gyms, libraries, classrooms, clinics, arsenals, motor pools, etc. The more people it holds, the more it needs to resemble a buried village.
>>Regarding dome construction, I recall an article from the 60s or early 70s that noted in some places the building code only let dome homes have 2 floors because of the slanting walls. So the second floor was ridiculously high ceilinged.<<
Most building codes don't allow domes at all, or indeed, any type of alternative building. So most domes are built in places with loose or no codes.
It's less about the code than the nature of the dome itself. Curvature means the second story will always be much smaller than the first. Getting more than 2 stories is extremely difficult. It makes more sense to dig down, if you're in an area where a basement is feasible, or to build sideways for extra space.
It is possible to make dome-ish buildings taller by putting a straight wall at the bottom, so for instance you might make a 3-4 story apartment tower with a domed top. But that sacrifices durability.
>> These strike me as good for some weather conditions. The shallower the angle with which the edge of the dome meets the ground, the less wind resistance there is (or the less wave resistance :-)
Those exist. Very wide, flattened domes are often used for gymnasiums or warehouses, although they tend to have a low straight sidewall.
>>Sections of oblate and prolate spheroids might have their uses as well.<<
There are a few oval or ring-shaped dome homes. More common are those with 2-3 domes butted together for extra space, and they are nearly a durable as single domes.
This site has lots of plans for dome homes:
https://www.monolithic.org/homes/floorplans
They also offer domes for other uses:
https://www.monolithic.org/schools
https://www.monolithic.org/churches
https://www.monolithic.org/storages
https://www.monolithic.org/sports
https://www.monolithic.org/commercial
https://www.monolithic.org/ecoshells