Science
Related: About this forumLeonardo Da Vinci's Bridge(s)
A group at MIT has built a scale model of the (rejected) bridge design which Leonardo Da Vinci proposed to bridge the Golden Horn about 500 years ago.
The MIT folk point out how many advanced design features it had, and postulate that had it been built it would have changed civil engineering. A variant of such a bridge was built by the Norwegians in 2001
https://media.istockphoto.com/photos/snow-and-davinci-bridge-picture-id959344070?k=20&m=959344070&s=170667a&w=0&h=XYd6S-gPkG1GMnnKFGBKWybMkdrlCnH-1Ugn7CIOsRA=]
They make no mention of several other of Da Vinci's bridge designs which, it seems to this non-engineer, are also astounding.
One was a bridge which was self-supporting during construction, and which several people have built
Another was for a parabolic swing bridge
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Brilliant, was our Leo!
NNadir
(34,552 posts)SorellaLaBefana
(219 posts)Leonardo was one of the most fascinating and widely-curious of people who has ever lived
Pretty good painter too
RestoreAmerica2020
(3,457 posts)Buen dia y
Paz..
SorellaLaBefana
(219 posts)Now, if i can just figure out how to transparently link images inline
Timeflyer
(2,605 posts)Thomas Paine (author of "Common Sense", "Age of Reason" etc.) was also intrigued by bridge design. Just sayin'.
SorellaLaBefana
(219 posts)More truthfully: he has long been one of my idols.
He gave much needed inspiration to the struggling American Revolutionists with his brilliant and resolute pamphleteering. These wonderfully written thoughts, and his later works as well, speak to many today
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country..."
"No country can be called free which is governed by an absolute power; and it matters not whether it be an absolute royal power or an absolute legislative power, as the consequences will be the same to the people"
"To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by scripture."
Gosh, given his important role in our nation's early history, I wonder why (as far as I know) there isn't a single school, street or town named after him?
I wonder why the MAGAggots of his time even denied him the right to vote?
Perhaps because of his interest in bridges, since they bring people together
ProfessorGAC
(69,681 posts)I've been to 4 da Vinci museums. Vinci, Milan, Venice & Florence. The one in Venice is less cool. The one in Florence is awesome.
Oh, and welcome Sis!