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The rim (wheel) of the High Roller is connected to the hub
(axle) by 112 cable spokes. The cables are three inches
thick. The rim is held in place by the tension of each cable
pulling it inward toward the hub. This is just like how a
bicycle wheel is held together — only much bigger!
Look closely at the Eiffel tower and you will see
that it has many X-shaped structures crisscrossing
all over it. These are called trusses. The truss uses
a relatively small amount of material to achieve a
relatively large amount of stability. They are very
efficient because they have more empty space than
material (in this case, iron), and they are so strong
because they make use of the inherent stability of
the triangle. In the Eiffel tower, the larger trusses
are even made of smaller trusses. There are over
18,000 different parts in the Eiffel tower. You can
see trusses in use everywhere, including in bridges,
skyscrapers, and towers.
The Gateway Arch is called a weighted
catenary arch because its shape matches
the curve of an upside-down catenary. A
catenary is the shape that a rope or chain
makes when you hold it from both ends and
let it hang down in the middle. This is the
optimal shape for an arch of uniform density
and thickness that needs to support only its
own weight, because a catenary is the most
efficient shape for channeling the force of
gravity into compressive forces that pass
through the arch down to the ground.
Truss
Curved
truss
Location: Paris, France
Year Completed:
Height (to Tip): , ft.
Material: Wrought iron
with concrete and stone
based
EIFFEL TOWER
Architectural Engineering
Location: Las Vegas,
Nevada
Year Completed:
Diameter: ft.
Height: ft.
Material: Steel plate
and steel cables
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Year Completed:
Height: ft.
Material: Stainless steel plates on
the exterior, carbon steel plates on
the interior, with reinforced
concrete poured between them
HIGH ROLLER
GATEWAY ARCH
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