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.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

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.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

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.

00:00

"Subscribe for more, share your thoughts"

  • The video content encourages viewers to subscribe for more content.
  • The viewers are thanked for watching and invited to share their thoughts.
Channel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatar

Try it yourself — It’s free.