Posted on 09/01/2011 6:10:08 AM PDT by markomalley
Hurricane Irene revealed new cracks in the Washington Monument, which was already closed following the Virginia earthquake, the National Parks Service said.
Spokeswoman Carol Johnson told CNN Wednesday Parks Service employees found standing water in the monument when they inspected it Monday. She said engineers tried to find holes following last week's 5.8 magnitude earthquake and in advance of the hurricane.
"There were some leaks that we were not able to identify or able to plug," Johnson said. "What happened was a lot of mortar popped out, so much so that you can see sunlight above 450 feet in the monument."
The monument has been closed until all damage is repaired. Johnson said engineers determined the earthquake caused no structural damage.
The 555-foot memorial to George Washington, the first U.S. president, was built over several decades in the mid-19th century.
They better darn well fix it.
555 feet, 5 1/8 inches, at the time of construction, to be precise. I had to do a report on it in seventh grade.
Seems like just last week!
And can we get a pro American/American to design and create the thing.
My husband’s very first job with the National Park Service was at the Washington Monument - seems like just last week too!
About 150 years old and it breaks in the Obama administration. There's a message there.
I wonder if there are any other purely masonry constructions that are anywhere near the height of the Washington Monument. It’s not a surprise that it is susceptible to earthquake damage.
LOL! That's awesome. Did you get an "A"?
I had always assumed it had an internal steel superstructure. As most people assume “brick houses” are stronger, when in reality, it’s just a veneer actually tied to the wooden wall frame to support it.
But what I’ve read of the history says the Washington Monument is actually a true masonry edifice.
In other words, it’s just a pile of rocks waiting to happen.
(ps Strunza means caa caa....)
Wasn’t the monument recently repaired? It seems that they did a lot of work in the last few years.
Well, they can do what they did here with buildings that needed work - take it apart and put it back together.
Was there anyone up on the observation level when the quake hit?
FUBO GTFO ! 507 Days until Noon Jan 20, 2013
“..just a pile of rocks waiting to happen.”
Yeah, but it turns out piles of rocks are pretty natural, robust structures.
And regarding houses, what you say is true for “modern” construction (~1950 +). But earlier brick buildings really were masonry structures - typically 8” thick walls for a house. Then they’d just fir the inside and plaster the walls.
The problem with pure masonry structures is the thickness of wall required at the base for taller structures.
Buildings over 100’ tall might have walls several feet thick at the bottom.
Other than earthquakes though, they do last. Their inherent strength is based on the most reliable factor around: gravity.
It (the cracks and leaking) does seem symbolic.
God bless and keep America.
I wonder if there are any other purely masonry constructions that are anywhere near the height of the Washington Monument. It’s not a surprise that it is susceptible to earthquake damage.
-PJ
After that, structural integrity begins to degrade!
But as you say, a masonry structure is based on an assumption...not really about gravity, but about the compressive force which comprises the force exerted by gravity, MINUS any tension applied by wind, earthquakes, airplanes, TNT, etc.
As they used to say, Civil Engineers don't spend much time in school on dynamics, because they assume if their projects are in motion then it's already too late!
Assumptions and ignoring unlikelihoods got us Tacoma Narrows.
Masonry (and concrete) are great under compression, but useless under tension. I think historically you're correct that true masonry edifices were massive, self-supporting structures....but I think that was merely because they simply didn't have cheap reliable high-tensile strength steel rebar and cables and beams.
People don't bother with roman arches anymore because they can use a steel lintel....though, to the advantage that it's cheaper, and to the disadvantage that it makes it look cheap!
Don't get me wrong, I love some good looking stonework. But while "Egyption Revival" is a good look, it shouldn't re-use their technology!
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