I know not Wichita, but I love ancient steel like that. When were rivets last used to assemble steel girders? !!
Ask the Internet and ye shall find:
From 1840 onwards, riveted connections became the most important joining technique within different fields that followed and overlapped each others (sic). The use of rivets had experienced several – formal, constructional and theoretical -renewals and evolutions, being in phase with industrial and technical “brainwaves” [brain storms? – JR] of that time (e.g. new materials, manufacturing process,installation techniques,…). The heyday of rivets started to decline around 1930, supplanted step-by-step by another joining technique: electric arc welding.
Above from an academic paper explains more than you ever wanted to know (or knew existed) about steel rivtet construction: ” Evolution of historical riveted connections: joining typologies, installation techniques andcalculation methods” Q. Collette, I. Wouters& L. Lauriks
Department of Architectural Engineering (ARCH), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium http://www.academia.edu/3603301/Evolution_of_historical_riveted_connections_joining_typologies_installation_techniques_and_calculation_methods
Cruise this site to see some very nice modern applications: http://www.ballardforge.com/
. . . and a bit of illustrated riveting history: http://www.ballardforge.com/web/rivets.html
Jim, if you love ancient steel and rivets. I imagine the bridges over the Chicago River are an attraction to you. Lots of interesting patterns of rivets to catch the eye there.
Here’s a video my sister found (civil engineer who’s worked on bridge construction) illustrating the installation of rivets. (Note: no sound) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVjS1DsqYvo
Bridge Rays
Wichita, Kansas
2011
This is really nice Larry. The geometry, repetition of pattens and overall composition is a real treat.
Thanks Bruce. I walked under that bridge a number of times before that particular set of patterns finally got my attention.
I know not Wichita, but I love ancient steel like that. When were rivets last used to assemble steel girders? !!
Ask the Internet and ye shall find:
From 1840 onwards, riveted connections became the most important joining technique within different fields that followed and overlapped each others (sic). The use of rivets had experienced several – formal, constructional and theoretical -renewals and evolutions, being in phase with industrial and technical “brainwaves” [brain storms? – JR] of that time (e.g. new materials, manufacturing process,installation techniques,…). The heyday of rivets started to decline around 1930, supplanted step-by-step by another joining technique: electric arc welding.
Above from an academic paper explains more than you ever wanted to know (or knew existed) about steel rivtet construction:
” Evolution of historical riveted connections: joining typologies, installation techniques andcalculation methods”
Q. Collette, I. Wouters& L. Lauriks
Department of Architectural Engineering (ARCH), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
http://www.academia.edu/3603301/Evolution_of_historical_riveted_connections_joining_typologies_installation_techniques_and_calculation_methods
Cruise this site to see some very nice modern applications:
http://www.ballardforge.com/
. . . and a bit of illustrated riveting history:
http://www.ballardforge.com/web/rivets.html
Jim, if you love ancient steel and rivets. I imagine the bridges over the Chicago River are an attraction to you. Lots of interesting patterns of rivets to catch the eye there.
Thanks for the history, Jim!
Here’s a video my sister found (civil engineer who’s worked on bridge construction) illustrating the installation of rivets. (Note: no sound)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVjS1DsqYvo