Engineering Goodness - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

300EVIL · #16 03-21-2007, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry edwards

Just got some zip ties from Harbor Freight made out of stainless steel instead of plastic. Great idea. Thanks to whoever it was who mentioned their existence on this board.

Oh, Too Cool! Must have! Thanks for the tip.

kerry · #17 03-21-2007, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Leo

Reminded about this from Kerry's other thread....

Tradiditonal skin-on-frame kayaks. Amazing.

A skinless aluminum framed Baidarka hangs in the lobby of our school. It was built by a former professor in memory of a professor friend of his who died in a car accident. Don't really know why he chose a kayak in his memory but is sure is a beautiful form to walk past every day.

kerry · #18 03-21-2007, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

it is true an arch will collapse if the keystone is removed. but not a dome.

the top ring of the dome acts as a compression ring and it can be built up without formwork. indeed the top can be left open forever.

like the pantheon in rome. a huge masonry dome with an occulus (i am not sure i spelled it correctly) but it is an opening that acts as an open air skylight.

as a bonus the 142.5' (i just checked wikipedia) diameter dome of the pantheon allows one to sit there and watch the movement of the sun. the distances are great enough you can quite easily watch the movement of the circle of light across the floor and up the wall.

one of my all time favorite buildings.

and as a kid i used to build igloos. out of snow, not ice blocks like the innuit.

tom w

I have a liking for the Pantheon also. I remember reading somewhere how many centuries it took before another similar sized concrete structure was built. Many.

t walgamuth · #19 03-21-2007, 10:24 PM

an architect/ engineer who i used to work for in anderson indiana designed an earth dome meaning they piled up earth and used it to form a dome of concrete then dug out the earth. it was an auditorium i believe. very innovative for the sixties. last year it was demolished.

you have to admire the romans. many things they built 2000 years ago survive in surprisingly good condition.

they had hot and cold running water in homes, sewers, and radiant floor heating. they had good working knowledge of passive solar heating too.

it is hard to imagine a greater concentration of architectural treasures than they have in italy.

tom w