« CONSTITUTION Home | Email msg. | Reply to msg. | Post new | Board info. Previous | Home | Next

Re: Contour crafting...

By: DueDillinger in CONSTITUTION | Recommend this post (0)
Sun, 12 Aug 12 6:33 PM | 90 view(s)
Boardmark this board | Constitutional Corner
Msg. 19279 of 21975
(This msg. is a reply to 19278 by micro)

Jump:
Jump to board:
Jump to msg. #

Huh? That makes no sense to me, micro. Both the Parthenon and the Pyramids are built directly on bedrock. While it's true that a building is only as good as its foundation, earthquake survivability depends on its structural integrity. Most unreinforced rectilinear masonry simply crumbles, but even masonry with a properly designed curved structure handles the stresses better. Consider the strength of an eggshell.

As for the Parthenon's curved foundation and columns, it's more of a compensation for an optical illusion than a structural consideration. Its integrity, and that of the Giza pyramids, derives in no small part from the precision of its construction--in some cases beyond what we can do today.

The replica of Athena's temple in Nashville is a wonder indeed--been there, stared in awe--but it's made of concrete.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/secrets-parthenon.html

Uploaded Image

∆∆


- - - - -
View Replies (1) »



» You can also:
- - - - -
The above is a reply to the following message:
Re: Contour crafting...
By: micro
in CONSTITUTION
Sun, 12 Aug 12 3:37 PM
Msg. 19278 of 21975

In early architecture, like the Parthenon in Athens, there is a great replica in Nashville, as in the Pyramids of Egypt, the engineers used the contours of the earth for the foundations instead of todays method of making things SQUARE and drilling down to bedrock.

That is how these structures stand the length of time they do despite earthquakes.

The Parthenon would still be standing today complete were it not for a gunpowder explosion inside.

The secret is in the foundations. Very true indeed.

the best,

micro...


« CONSTITUTION Home | Email msg. | Reply to msg. | Post new | Board info. Previous | Home | Next