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On the evolution in design and calculation of steel structures over the 19th century in Belgium, France and England

Boekbijdrage - Boekhoofdstuk Conferentiebijdrage

© 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, London. The design of metal structures in the 19th century is a topic subject to much admiration. One often wonders how it was possible to design these great metal structures withstanding the test of time and to guarantee their safety and stability when no powerful computer software or advanced verifications based on years of research and experimentation were available. Several structures erected at that time are still in use: railway stations across Europe such as the St. Pancras station hall in London (1866-1868), the Eiffel tower in Paris (1889) or a great number of bridges such as the Forth Bridge in Scotland (1880-1890) and the Garabit viaduct in France (1880-1884). It is of great interest to improve our knowledge about the important assumptions and the design procedures available at that time, for the continuous use of these structures nowadays, extending their service life and complying with the idea of minimum intervention. The overall goal of this contribution is to describe the evolution in the design and calculation during the 19th century, with focus on Belgium, France and England. Special attention is being paid to the similarities and differences between the ancient design rules and the current structural design standards. Based on a literature survey, the evolution in terms of load definition, calculation methods, material properties and verifications, are described. The covered period roughly ranges from 1850 to 1920. The article highlights how the pioneering works that have been achieved in that period set the path for the actual European design codes. Different design aspects are illustrated through a case study: the Garabit viaduct in France.
Boek: Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions - Anamnesis, Diagnosis, Therapy, Controls
Pagina's: 604 - 611
ISBN:978-1-138-02951-4
Jaar van publicatie:2016