Valeria Avila Guerrero
October 30, 2017
Mech 194
Dr. Hight
Error in Conceptual Design Case Study: Paconius and the Pedestal for Apollo This case study is based in the ancient world during the time of the temple of Apollo, where large stone pedestals were transported for construction and structural purposes. According to Henry Petroski in Design Paradigms, Case Histories of Error and Judgment in Engineering, these stones were large and heavy which presented a challenge when transporting over large bodies of water and irregular ground surfaces. In addition, aesthetics maintenance was important, as these stones would be visible once installed. Many solutions were implemented using massive wagons, rollers and oxen, widening wheels, etc. (1994, …show more content…
As Dr. N. Subramaniam mentions in his book Rehabilitation of Steel Structures- Some Case Studies, overconfidence can bring many dangers to designers. In the case of the Millennium Bridge at London, a 320 m span Aluminum and Stainless Steel Bridge across the River Thames in London was opened in the year 2000. About 160,000 people crossed the bridge during the first weekend. As people began to cross, the bridge was swaying from side to side. The bridge was wobbling dangerously over deep waters. As Subramaniam mentioned, “Many felt sea-sick while crossing.“ Sir Norman Foster, a famous British Architect claimed to have designed the innovative nature of its design with the objective of "pushing the suspension bridge technology as far as possible, to create a uniquely thin bridge profile, forming a slender blade across the River Thames;” however, this confidence in his conceptual idea might have caused him to blindly build the structure without analyzing properly. The bridge was made of Aluminum decking and stiffened by suspension cables in the horizontal plane. No attempt was made to stiffen it in the vertical plane, which caused it to respond to the vertical forces due to pedestrians walking on
October 30, 2017
Mech 194
Dr. Hight
Error in Conceptual Design Case Study: Paconius and the Pedestal for Apollo This case study is based in the ancient world during the time of the temple of Apollo, where large stone pedestals were transported for construction and structural purposes. According to Henry Petroski in Design Paradigms, Case Histories of Error and Judgment in Engineering, these stones were large and heavy which presented a challenge when transporting over large bodies of water and irregular ground surfaces. In addition, aesthetics maintenance was important, as these stones would be visible once installed. Many solutions were implemented using massive wagons, rollers and oxen, widening wheels, etc. (1994, …show more content…
As Dr. N. Subramaniam mentions in his book Rehabilitation of Steel Structures- Some Case Studies, overconfidence can bring many dangers to designers. In the case of the Millennium Bridge at London, a 320 m span Aluminum and Stainless Steel Bridge across the River Thames in London was opened in the year 2000. About 160,000 people crossed the bridge during the first weekend. As people began to cross, the bridge was swaying from side to side. The bridge was wobbling dangerously over deep waters. As Subramaniam mentioned, “Many felt sea-sick while crossing.“ Sir Norman Foster, a famous British Architect claimed to have designed the innovative nature of its design with the objective of "pushing the suspension bridge technology as far as possible, to create a uniquely thin bridge profile, forming a slender blade across the River Thames;” however, this confidence in his conceptual idea might have caused him to blindly build the structure without analyzing properly. The bridge was made of Aluminum decking and stiffened by suspension cables in the horizontal plane. No attempt was made to stiffen it in the vertical plane, which caused it to respond to the vertical forces due to pedestrians walking on