SOME PROBLEMS OF THE DESIGN OF STRUCTURES

 

From the beginning of recorded time mankind has designed and erected structures of great size and beauty. The gigantic pyramids in Egypt still stand today and testify to the great engineering skill of the ancient inhabitants of the Nile Valley. In similar fashion, the impressive marble-columned Parthenon on top of the Acropolis in Athens bears witness to the artistry of the ancient Greeks. Built in the fourth century before our era, its classic beauty still delights numerous tourists. There are many other examples of the engineering and architectural structures of ancient times that have more or less successfully withstood the ruinous effect of time throughout centuries.

However, it is only in relatively modern times that the design of structures or of machines has become a science rather than an art. Galileo was one of the first to attempt to establish design on a more rational basis. He applied the principles of equilibrium to a study of the forces acting on a cantilever beam and derived an equation for determining the internal stresses that were developed. Unfortunately, one of the assumption that he made with regard to the strain distribution in the beam was incorrect, and hence, his final equations were incorrect also. Nevertheless, the general method of analysis that he used constituted an auspicious beginning to the development of what is today the science of strength of materials. It is essentially the application of the rational principles of this science which provides the fundamental basis for all machine and structural design.

The great technological developments of the twentieth century – in structures such as skyscrapers and suspension bridges and in machines such as airplanes, automobiles, and let engines – have placed great demands and responsibilities upon design and structural engineers. Yet every day requests arise for structures and machines of still greater strength and endurance, and at less weight and with greater economy. The designer must also be constantly aware of machine or structure expires, it is he who will be responsible. Such failures are indeed rare, but when one does take place, it strikingly calls attention to the great responsibilities of design engineers.

VOCABULARY NOTES

1) mankind - людство

2) ancient inhabitants – стародавні мешканці

3) withstand – протистояти

4) a cantilever beam – крива балка

5) assumption – припущення

6) equation - рівняння

7) skyscraper - хмарочос

8) to held responsibility – нести відповідальність

9) to testify - свідчити   

 

EXERCISES

1) Find the English equivalents to the following word combinations:

велика кількість туристів; архітектурні споруди; руйнівний ефект; опір матеріалів; раціональні принципи; висячий міст; міцність; дивовижно.

2)Answer the questions:

1) What has mankind designed and erected from the beginning of recorded time?

2) What structures of ancient times do you know?

3) What principles did Galileo apply?

4) What technological developments of the XX ^th century can you name?

5) What requests arise every day?

6) What must the designer be aware of?

3) Complete the sentences in yow own words:

1) In ancient times mankind……

2) Galileo was one who…….

3) One of the assumptions that Galileo made ……

4) The great technological developments of modern time were….  

5) The requests for ………… arise every day

4)Translate into English:

1) Єгипетські піраміди все ще існують сьогодні та свідчать про великі інженерські вміння давніх жителів долини Нілу.

2) Існує багато прикладів інженерних та архітектурних споруд давніх часів, що більш менш успішно протистояли руйнівному ефекту часів на протязі століть.

3) Галілей був першим, хто намагався розробити дизайн більш раціональної основи.

4) Проте, головний метод аналізу, який він виконував, продовжив гарний початок в розвитку науки, що зараз називаються опором матеріалів, або механікою

5) Великими технологічними досягненнями ХХ століття були хмарочоси, висячі мости, автомобілі, літаки та інші.

 

 

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