How Engineers Straightened the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Practical Engineering・2 minutes read
A river in central Italy deposited silt and soil, leading to the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa with a tilt of five-and-a-half degrees. The tower's stability was ensured through various measures, including underexcavation, lead counterweights, and anchoring, showcasing intricate logistics to maintain its historical character.
Insights
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa's construction faced challenges leading to a significant tilt, nearly collapsing by 1817, requiring innovative stabilization methods like lead counterweights and underexcavation to ensure its preservation.
- The restoration project for the Leaning Tower showcased a blend of historical preservation and engineering precision, emphasizing the delicate balance between maintaining the tower's iconic lean while implementing intricate techniques to secure its stability for future generations.
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Recent questions
How did the Leaning Tower of Pisa get its tilt?
Due to interruptions during construction, builders compensated for the lean, resulting in a curved structure.
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History Summarized: The Leaning Tower of Pisa
Summary
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Restoring the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- A river in central Italy emptied into the Ligurian Sea around 1-2 million years ago, depositing silt and soil across the landscape.
- Construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa began in 1173, with a tilt of five-and-a-half degrees in 1990.
- The tower's construction was interrupted multiple times, leading to a curved structure due to builders compensating for the lean.
- By 1817, the tower's inclination was about 4.9 degrees, with a factor of safety of 1.07, indicating it was near collapse.
- Temporary stabilization measures involved adding 600 tons of lead counterweights to counteract the lean.
- The committee's initial anchoring plan failed, leading to the addition of 350 more tonnes of lead weights to stop the tower's movement.
- Underexcavation was then employed, removing 38 cubic meters of soil to reduce the tower's tilt by half a degree.
- The project included installing a drainage system, removing lead counterweights, and attaching the tower to the Catino to increase foundation support.
- The tilt was reduced to about 130 arcseconds, maintaining the historical character of the tower while ensuring its stability.
- The project showcased the intricate logistics of fixing the Leaning Tower, involving precise underexcavation techniques and safeguard systems.
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