Thursday, 2 January 2014

St. Louis Arch


St. Louis Arch
I learned something new today from an engineer, conversation was pretty interesting...main point St. Louis Arch.
I know..I know, not typical conversation for a woman but hey I love this stuff and since the engineer in cause is my uncle, even better.
The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot (192 m) high monument in St. Louis.
"The St. Louis Arch" is shaped like an upside-down catenary for maximum support.

What is a catenary?
In physics and geometry, a catenary is the curve that an idealized hanging chain or cable assumes under its own weight when supported only at its ends. The curve has a U-like shape, superficially similar in appearance to a parabola (though mathematically quite different). It also appears in the design of certain types of arches and as a cross section of the catenoid—the shape assumed by a soap film bounded by two parallel circular rings.

Mathematically, the catenary curve is the graph of the hyperbolic cosine function. The surface of revolution of the catenary curve, the catenoid, is a minimal surface, and is the only minimal surface of revolution other than the plane. The mathematical properties of the catenary curve were first studied by Robert Hooke in the 1670s, and its equation was derived by Leibniz, Huygens and Johann Bernoulli in 1691.
Well was a good day to learn about St. Louis Arch =)

Know more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_Arch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catenary
Image: animation of a Gateway Arch/ bugman creation
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21 comments:

  1. B Etheridge2 January 2014 at 08:47

    Corina you share so many cool science and engineering posts that your saying "not typical conversation for a woman" makes me sad

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  2. Corina Marinescu2 January 2014 at 08:51

    Bryce Etheridge I have a sister and a mother no mention grandma, and they all think I should talk more about girly stuff. But  is kinda boring for me to talk about purses, lipstick and fashion. After all even a cigar is just a damn cigar.

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  3. Gordon Birch (The Third)2 January 2014 at 08:55

    Quite fascinating, Corina, thanks!

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  4. Arjun Shenoy2 January 2014 at 09:05

    That is some great stuff.. Thanks for sharing :)

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  5. Corina Marinescu2 January 2014 at 09:19

    Welcome like always =)
    Khris W. 
    Gord Birch III

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  6. Gordon Birch (The Third)2 January 2014 at 09:59

    Corina Marinescu, if I may add, your new profile pic is quite lovely :)

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  7. Corina Marinescu2 January 2014 at 10:11

    Thanks Gord Birch III ;)

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  8. John Bump2 January 2014 at 10:18

    Another use of catenaries, where they bear the name, is in the cables used to support overhead power lines for electric trams/trains/buses.  The power lines need to be close to flat, so they suspend them from a catenary line that holds their weight.

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  9. Corina Marinescu2 January 2014 at 10:21

    Thanks for the info John Bump

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  10. Samuel Marsh2 January 2014 at 10:52

    Even girly things like lipstick had to be engineered, im prety sure it didnt put itself into the tube ;)

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  11. Corina Marinescu2 January 2014 at 10:58

    Ok Samuel Marsh really is not a good idea to talk about how toxic lipstick is and scare my mom and sister hehe.
    I was just refering in general at girly talks, which are good for 15 mins...after that is boring =)

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  12. Gordon Birch (The Third)2 January 2014 at 11:00

    John Bump thank you for that additional information!
    Corina Marinescu, you're quite welcome, milady :)
    Samuel Marsh, too true, everything - regardless of size - had to be engineered; thus, someone had put a lot of thought into making even the smallest item - such as lipstick.

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  13. Corina Marinescu2 January 2014 at 12:08

    Tim Bowers that's why my words are not between "   "... because I take what matters from a line and adjust it to my own fusimotors ;)

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  14. Daniel N Muñoz2 January 2014 at 12:16

    Thanks for sharing! :)
    I always read new info in your G+

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  15. Gordon Birch (The Third)2 January 2014 at 12:27

    Corina Marinescu always has great and fascinating posts, I quite enjoy them!

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  16. Jeffrey Kane2 January 2014 at 13:44

    I'd like to highlight an important word "own" as a catenary is the shape of hanging under something's "own" weight. If a force is applied evenly across the hang (think suspension bridge) the hang is not a catenary but a parabola.

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  17. Jeffrey Kane2 January 2014 at 17:47

    Tim Bowers I don't see any lenses. The mathematical description of the curve is a catenary.

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  18. Jeffrey Kane2 January 2014 at 18:35

    Tim Bowers a sideways remark in a book on termintes? nope! how about a book on bridge engineering: http://books.google.com/books?id=bxAkAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1897&lpg=PA1897&dq=lenticular+arch&source=bl&ots=B2ldUCJ0F6&sig=pSGZHy8D8n0ZJYUQd17ZFS8Dtuo&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WiHGUr26JIOTyQGE04HoCw&ved=0CGYQ6AEwCw#v=onepage&q=lenticular%20arch&f=false

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  19. Corina Marinescu2 January 2014 at 19:10

    Ok...I'll have to ask you to stop with the characterization Tim Bowers, I don't need anyone's adoration on the internet, I also don't like silly jokes...so you may want to stop till I don't block you. And this is not a lenticular arch!!

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  20. Tim Bowers2 January 2014 at 23:17

    sorry - thanks for deleting it.  i came back to delete it.

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  21. G. Thomas Edwards6 January 2014 at 11:10

    I was not aware physics, engineering and the wonders of the universe were not considered 'Girly' stuff? Says who? But then I never get any of the important memos

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