Eiffel Tower / Skytree

Remember, the city of Paris only allowed the Eiffel Tower to be erected with the understanding that after the close of 'The Exposition Universelle of 1889', that the eyesore would be dismantled.

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
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I think you seriously underestimate the brain of Mssr. Eiffel. The Eiffel Tower has a gross weight of 10,100 tons; Tokyo Skytree, at not quite double the height, weighs in at 36,000 tons.

Tokyo is in a seismic zone, so any comparison is really possible.

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I wasn't suggesting a Tokyo Skytree replanted in Paris might be an improvement on the Eiffel Tower! Rather that something as close to the Eiffel Tower as is consistent with three not four legs would possibly have been more cost-effective than the structure we are familiar with. I have no idea if Eiffel gave thought to the possibility. One could argue about the aesthetics of course.

I wouldn't know if Gustav Eiffel actually considered the possibility of 3 legs, but there are a lot of design details in the tower that rely on 90-degree angles. Most of the connecting joints meet at 90 degrees in one plane or another. Box girders, channels, angles, lattices... there are a LOT OF DETAILS in the Eiffel tower to be seen. All of these materials were already available in large quantity for bridge construction. A 3-legged tower would require all of these to be 60 degree angles... special order!

I strongly suggest that any and every engineer who has an opportunity to visit Paris to make time to see the Eiffel tower and walk up (or easier: down) the stairs the WHOLE WAY. Give yourself the whole day if you need it and make sure your camera battery is fully charged.

Sparweb,
I have never been to Paris, not sure if I will make it.
But what is the netting for (top and top left)? Safety nets?

Yes. Maintenance work is always being done on the tower. The nets are to catch dropped tools. Crowds are free to walk underneath.
It was late in the afternoon when I walked through, so all the workers had gone home. Except this painter, who didn't seem to be in a hurry to leave.

There are a few railroad bridges around France designed by Eiffel. They are beautiful.
Considering the steels and design tools that he had he did amazing stuff.
His office is still at the top of the tower.
He helped finance the project, in return he got the money from the tickets for admission. Needless to say he made a fortune.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

His office is still at the top of the tower

Click to expand...

Where he still entertains an equally interesting guest.

And after walking down the tower, take the underground part of the tour as well. The elevators running up and down the side of the Eiffel tower are still water powered. More excitement for an Engineer to watch the equipment in action.

In my several trips to France, I've always been impressed with their civil engineering accomplishments. Not only do they built some amazing structures, they make them look good. 16 years ago, my wife and I took a six day, 100 km barge cruise from Strasbourg to Nancy, over the Vouges Mountains, from Alsace to Lorraine. The canal system, with it's system of locks, was amazing, including a 150 foot high barge lift and two barge tunnels through the top of the mountains and then another single lock that dropped more than 52 feet before we reached the end of our journey. And just walking along the Seine in Paris, looking at the different bridge designs, is a real treat for an engineer, even if he was a machine designer and had never worked on a bridge.


September 2004 (Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi)


September 2004 (Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi)


September 2004 (Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi)


September 2004 (Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi)

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

Brigde of Queen D. Maria in Oporto city.

luis

Brigde of king D. Luis in Oporto city.

luis