an american engineering success design for engineering the brooklyn bridge 2006 greg heitkamp this...

An American engineering An American engineering successsuccess

Design for Design for EngineeringEngineering

The Brooklyn BridgeThe Brooklyn Bridge

2006 Greg HeitkampThis material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0402616.) Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Picture from: http://marc.stager.com/gallery/

Engineer: John A. RoeblingEngineer: John A. Roebling Born: 12 June 1806 Muehlhausen PrussiaBorn: 12 June 1806 Muehlhausen Prussia Educated Civil Engineering Royal Polytechnic Educated Civil Engineering Royal Polytechnic

Institute of Berlin 1826Institute of Berlin 1826 Immigrated to US in 1831 to be a farmerImmigrated to US in 1831 to be a farmer Founded Saxonburg PennsylvaniaFounded Saxonburg Pennsylvania Appointed Chief Engineer Brooklyn Bridge Project, Appointed Chief Engineer Brooklyn Bridge Project,

23 May 1867 salary $8000.0023 May 1867 salary $8000.00 6 July 1869 Injure in accident foot crushed6 July 1869 Injure in accident foot crushed 22 July 1869 Dies from infection from foot 22 July 1869 Dies from infection from foot

amputationamputationhttp://www.endex.com/gf/buildings/bbridge/http://www.endex.com/gf/buildings/bbridge/

bbridgefacts.htmbbridgefacts.htm

Engineer continuedEngineer continued August Washington Roebling appointed to August Washington Roebling appointed to

replace his deceased father. Engineer will replace his deceased father. Engineer will finish projectfinish project

Was a Colonel in the Union Army and Was a Colonel in the Union Army and responsible for the defense at Little Round responsible for the defense at Little Round Top at GettysburgTop at Gettysburg

Health was affected by long hours in 1872 Health was affected by long hours in 1872 and nearly diedand nearly died

Died 26 July , 1926 at age 79Died 26 July , 1926 at age 79http://www.endex.com/gf/buildings/http://www.endex.com/gf/buildings/

bbridge/bbridgefacts.htmbbridge/bbridgefacts.htm

Interesting FactsInteresting Facts Bridge Style - Suspension Bridge. Bridge Style - Suspension Bridge.

Tower Structure - Stone masonry Tower Structure - Stone masonry

Distance of roadbed above water - 135 feetDistance of roadbed above water - 135 feet Height of Towers above high water- 276½ feet (JSG)Height of Towers above high water- 276½ feet (JSG) Height of tallest building in New York in 1883 - 281 feetHeight of tallest building in New York in 1883 - 281 feet

       The Spire of Trinity Church       The Spire of Trinity Church Height of Towers above roadway - 159 feet (JSG)Height of Towers above roadway - 159 feet (JSG) Height of Tower Arches above roadway - 117 feet (JSG)Height of Tower Arches above roadway - 117 feet (JSG) Source of Granite - Quarries of J.R. Bodwell, Hallowell, Source of Granite - Quarries of J.R. Bodwell, Hallowell,

Maine. (1872).        (The same stone was used in Tombs Maine. (1872).        (The same stone was used in Tombs prison and the reservoir in Central Park) prison and the reservoir in Central Park)

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Historical Setting Influencing Historical Setting Influencing ConstructionConstruction

New York Legislature considers a bill to New York Legislature considers a bill to build a bridge over the East River in 1857build a bridge over the East River in 1857

Brooklyn Population 1860 266,000Brooklyn Population 1860 266,000 Brooklyn Population 1870 396,000 50% Brooklyn Population 1870 396,000 50%

increase, Fastest growing city in the increase, Fastest growing city in the countrycountry

18 Bill to build the bridge passes the 18 Bill to build the bridge passes the legislaturelegislature

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Engineering Engineering ChallengesChallenges

Waterproofing the wood caissonsWaterproofing the wood caissons Getting the proper wire for the cablesGetting the proper wire for the cables Preventing workers working inside Preventing workers working inside

the caisson from getting the bends the caisson from getting the bends better known as Caisson Diseasebetter known as Caisson Disease

Construction Accidents Construction Accidents

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Ethical ConflictsEthical Conflicts

Steel Cable Contractor FraudSteel Cable Contractor Fraud Prevent deaths due to cables brakingPrevent deaths due to cables braking

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How this Structure Changed How this Structure Changed SocietySociety

““The bridge was suggested during a time when America was The bridge was suggested during a time when America was under a Manifest Destiny spirit; when the idea of the frontier under a Manifest Destiny spirit; when the idea of the frontier and expanding onto new land was desirable. A time of and expanding onto new land was desirable. A time of urbanization, receding rural areas, and technology was on the urbanization, receding rural areas, and technology was on the rise in New York. It just needed a trigger: the Brooklyn Bridge. rise in New York. It just needed a trigger: the Brooklyn Bridge. When the fusion of society and technology was brought to new When the fusion of society and technology was brought to new heights with the Brooklyn Bridge, New Yorkers saw it as a heights with the Brooklyn Bridge, New Yorkers saw it as a stepping-stone. They realized they could build taller, use more stepping-stone. They realized they could build taller, use more expertise, create more of a shock. The Brooklyn Bridge was the expertise, create more of a shock. The Brooklyn Bridge was the catalyst for the phenomenon of the skyscraper in New York catalyst for the phenomenon of the skyscraper in New York City. The idea of a bridge foreshadowed a new standard of life; City. The idea of a bridge foreshadowed a new standard of life; it was the seed of industry and development. David McCullough it was the seed of industry and development. David McCullough noted in his book, The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the noted in his book, The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge, "Even before the bridge was Building of the Brooklyn Bridge, "Even before the bridge was opened it had become a symbol of something impossible to opened it had become a symbol of something impossible to define that made New York different from every other city on define that made New York different from every other city on earth. The bridge dominated the imagination the way it earth. The bridge dominated the imagination the way it dominated the skyline."dominated the skyline." “ “(3) (3) http://www.mapsites.net/gotham01/webpages/gabbyl/affects.htmhttp://www.mapsites.net/gotham01/webpages/gabbyl/affects.htm

Standards AddressedStandards Addressed

Standard 2:Students will develop an Standard 2:Students will develop an understanding of the core concepts understanding of the core concepts of technology.of technology. X. Systems thinking applies logic and X. Systems thinking applies logic and

creativity with appropriate compromises creativity with appropriate compromises in complex real-life problems.in complex real-life problems.

Z. Selecting resources involves trade-Z. Selecting resources involves trade-offs between competing values, such as offs between competing values, such as availability cost, desirability, and waste.availability cost, desirability, and waste.

Standards Addressed Standards Addressed ContinuedContinued

Standard 2 continuedStandard 2 continuedAA. Requirements involve the AA. Requirements involve the

identification of the criteria and identification of the criteria and constraints of a product or system and constraints of a product or system and the determination of how they affect the the determination of how they affect the final design and development.final design and development.

DD. Quality control is planned process DD. Quality control is planned process that ensure that a product, service, or that ensure that a product, service, or system meets established criteria.system meets established criteria.

Standards Addressed Standards Addressed ContinuedContinued

Standard 5: Students will develop an Standard 5: Students will develop an understanding of the effects of understanding of the effects of technology on the environment.technology on the environment. L. Decisions regarding the L. Decisions regarding the

implementation of technologies involve implementation of technologies involve the weighing of trade-offs between the weighing of trade-offs between predicted positive and negative effects predicted positive and negative effects on the environment.on the environment.

Standards Addressed Standards Addressed ContinuedContinued

Standard 8: Students will develop an Standard 8: Students will develop an understanding of the attributes of understanding of the attributes of design.design. K. Requirements of a design, such as K. Requirements of a design, such as

criteria, constraints, and efficiency, criteria, constraints, and efficiency, sometimes compete with each others. sometimes compete with each others.