Dalla ghisa al ferro forgiato - parte 2

Summary

In May 1886, Paris prepared for a grand exhibition to celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution, aiming to showcase the best of French technology. Gustave Eiffel proposed a 300-meter iron tower, drawing on his team's expertise in bridge construction and innovative engineering techniques. Using triangular cross-sectioned beams to resist wind and reduce costs, Eiffel's team built the iconic tower in just over two years. The construction was a marvel, with thousands of precisely crafted iron elements assembled with minimal labor. Eiffel's tower not only became a symbol of French engineering but also a tourist attraction, with hydraulic elevators carrying millions to the top in its first year.

Takeaways

• 🗼 In May 1886, Paris was organizing a grand exhibition to celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution and showcase the best of French technology.
• 🏗 The French wanted to be the first to build a 300m high iron tower, an idea that had been around for some time.
• 🤝 Two colleagues of Eiffel had been dreaming of building a similar tower, and when Paris requested a project, Eiffel was ready with his team's ideas.
• 🏛️ Eiffel's team proposed a four-legged tower, diverging at the base towards the four cardinal points and converging at the top, connected by metal beams.
• 🌉 Eiffel had previously built the world's longest bridge, the Garabit viaduct, showcasing his mastery of iron construction techniques.
• 💰 Eiffel had to personally secure most of the 8 million Francs needed for the project, and his team of bridge builders had just two years to deliver the tower.
• 🔩 Eiffel used similar engineering techniques to minimize costs, opting for triangular, equilateral shapes for the beams to ensure strength and stability.
• 🌬️ The tower was designed to be resistant to strong winds, a crucial consideration given a catastrophic bridge collapse in Scotland due to a storm a decade earlier.
• 🏭 Eiffel relied on the technology developed 80 years prior by Henry Cort for producing precision iron elements, which were essential for constructing the tower.
• 🔨 The construction of the Eiffel Tower was like assembling a giant 3D puzzle with thousands of precisely crafted iron elements.
• ⏱️ The tower was built in an astonishing 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days, a testament to Eiffel's engineering prowess and efficient construction methods.

Q & A

What event was Paris organizing in May 1886?

Paris was organizing a grand exposition to celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution and to showcase the best of French technology to the world.

What was the ambition of the French for the 1886 exposition?

The ambition was to be the first to build a 300-meter tall tower made of iron.

Who were the two colleagues of Eiffel that had been dreaming of building a similar tower?

The script does not mention the names of the two colleagues of Eiffel who had been dreaming of building a similar tower.

What was the design proposed by Eiffel's team for the tower?

Eiffel's team proposed a tower with four legs diverging at the base towards the four cardinal points (north, east, south, and west), converging at the top and connected by metal braces.

What was the significance of the Garabit viaduct in Eiffel's career?

The Garabit viaduct was significant because it was the longest bridge in the world at the time Eiffel built it, showcasing his mastery of iron construction techniques.

What was the cost-saving technique Eiffel used in the construction of the tower?

Eiffel used the technique of minimizing the use of iron to save costs, opting for triangular, equilateral shapes for the beams which were more resistant and less prone to collapse.

What was the impact of the Tay Bridge disaster on the design of the Eiffel Tower?

The Tay Bridge disaster, where a bridge collapsed due to a storm, influenced the design of the Eiffel Tower to be resistant to strong winds.

How did Eiffel minimize wind resistance in the tower's design?

Eiffel used open truss designs to minimize wind resistance, which not only saved a lot of iron and money but was also an engineering triumph.

What was the role of Henry Cort in the production of the iron elements for the Eiffel Tower?

Henry Cort's technology for producing iron elements was used by Eiffel to create the 18,000 elements needed for the tower, as it had been developed 80 years prior.

How were the iron elements for the tower manufactured?

The iron elements were manufactured by heating iron bars in a furnace, cutting them to a precise weight, and then shaping them while hot through a series of grooved rollers.

What was the method used to assemble the Eiffel Tower?

The Eiffel Tower was assembled like a giant three-dimensional puzzle with thousands of precisely made iron elements that were hoisted into place by mobile cranes.

How did Eiffel ensure the stability and levelness of the first platform of the tower?

Eiffel ensured the stability and levelness of the first platform by meticulously aligning the huge beams and using a hydraulic jack to make corrections to the angle of each beam.

What was the role of hydraulic power in the Eiffel Tower's elevators?

Hydraulic power was used to operate the elevators of the Eiffel Tower, with water being pumped at high pressure into large cylinders to move the elevator cars up and down.

How quickly did Eiffel complete the construction of the tower?

Eiffel completed the construction of the tower in 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days.