Monthly Archives: October 2014

Blog #7: The Leaning Tower of Pisa

http://madridengineering.com/case-study-the-leaning-tower-of-pisa/

Although the Leaning Tower of Pisa’s greatest amazement is the fact that is it is leaning, in reality, the tilt is the result of poor engineering and design planning. However, the original mistakes opened the door for a variety of new design plans.

The construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa has its greatest flaw in the decision of where to build it. The ground that the building resides on is very unstable soil, consisting of clay, fine sand, and shells (1,3). This soft soil as well as an inadequate foundation (which was only 3 meters thick) were too unstable to support such a large structure (1,3). Once the construction of the third level began, the tower began to lean (3). The building has sunk by at least a yard, leans at an angle of 3.97° (5.5° at one point), and is estimated to move at a rate of about 0.05 inches per year (1,2). If the Leaning Tower of Pisa had not been built on such a poor surface, it may not be leaning or as popular as it is today, but the challenges that have been faced involving the structure’s stability would not have existed.

http://symonsez.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/leaning-tower-of-pisa-a-magnificent-engineering-failure/

Despite the poor structural integrity of the Tower of Pisa’s lean, it has provided engineers and designers with a curious project. A variety of ideas have been developed in order to correct or preserve the building for a longer period of time than it would on its own considering its yearly movement. First of all, during the building of the tower, the columns and arches of the third story were made taller on the sinking side and the top story was actually constructed on an angle (1). Since its completion, a variety of other suggestion have arisen, some of them actually being attempted. Steel cables and counterweights have tried to correct the tower’s lean, but they have tended to become eyesores and have also at times worsened the angle at which the tower leans (1,2,3). One suggestion was to completely dismantle the building and reconstruct is at a different location (2). However, this idea was strongly opposed in order to preserve the original building as a famous tourist attraction. Although many of these design corrections may have been expected to be a success, all of them either were turned down or failed if they were attempted.

http://madridengineering.com/case-study-the-leaning-tower-of-pisa/

Ultimately, the best solution that has preserved the structure of the Leaning Tower of Pisa as well as its appealing aesthetics was soil extraction (1,2,3). By removing parts of the ground underneath the building on one side, gravity was able to fix the problem on its own (1). While enough soil was removed to stabilize the building, enough was also left to preserve its famous lean (1). Thanks to a variety of design ideas, an ultimate solution was discovered in order to ensure the safety of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and to retain the building’s famous original flaw.

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Bog #6: The Ethics of Care vs. the Ethics of Competition

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Implementing only the ethics of care or only the ethics of competition is a poor way to breed success. A combination of the two will encourage the greatest growth in overall potential and achievement.

The main objective of the ethics of care is an increase in positive social relationships and equality. By applying this method of motivation, people are more likely to form lateral social bonds, which tend to be more personal than hierarchical relationships. With better personal relationships, people are more likely to cooperate and work well in teams. In addition, with the ethics of care, no individual or minority group will be left behind as the people around them advance in the world. People would be encouraged to help one another so that everyone could succeed equally. However, implementing the ethics of care is not without its drawbacks. Because no individual should be left behind, some that may be able to successfully move on should hold back their potential in order to assist those that need help. Furthermore, with lateral bonds rather than a hierarchy, there is a much greater chance that there would be less structure at a time during which order may be necessary.

On the other hand, the ethics of competition is almost the complete opposite. Competition can bring out the best in people by motivating them to reach for their maximum potential and beyond. While some individuals may not be able to keep up with others, the idea is to have everyone strive for the best that they can achieve. The risk involved with the ethics of competition is that some may become discouraged and simply give up after comparing themselves to others. They may feel that those above them in a hierarchy allow them no chance to reach success. Additionally, while a hierarchy created through competition may provide necessary structure at times, it can also hinder collaboration and relationships during others.

In order to allow for the greatest individual achievements as well as the best relationships, a balance between the ethics of care and of competition is essential. Competition will help people strive for their greatest potential while care will breed cooperation and teamwork; a which will undoubtedly lead the world to much success.

Blog #5: Insoles

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http://www.summit-brands.com/products/pro-line-court-insole

Many people suffer from foot discomfort while playing a sport, taking part in another physical activity, or from simply walking. With the help of an insole, any pain or soreness could be greatly reduced, if not completely eliminated.

Foot discomfort is usually the result of walking on an arch that is either too high or too low (1,3). Arches that are too high or too low can lead to high impact energy and/or joint misalignment, which are the two main reasons that people get sore (2). Poor arches encourage people to walk improperly, leading to pain because of excess pressure and poorly-distributed weight (1). In addition to uncomfortable feet, damage to your knees can be caused by an improper arch as well (1). By using an insole to improve an arch, many of these uncomfortable symptoms can be corrected.

Once it is determined where the problem in your foot lies, whether the arch is too high or too low, you can find the insole design that targets your specific issue (1,3). While high arches may need some serious cushioning or energy absorption (1,2), low arches may need some extra support (1,3). Additionally, the type of activity that the user intends to do can have an impact on what kind of insole he or she should obtain. For simply walking, a cheaper gel or foam insole for comfort may do the trick. On the other hand, a harder material for structural support and stability may be a better option for someone interested in playing an intense sport (3). By knowing which insole design would be best suit your own foot, you can find an appropriate model and expect to see the greatest improvements.

Additional variances and improvements in designs can also influence the preference for an insole. For instance, some designs feature and anti-microbial finishing that prevents odor from building up in you shoe (1). Others combine an air cushioning system and moisture control technology to keep your feet cool and dry all day long (1). In a more advanced insole, impact energy is transformed into heat before it reaches the body through nano technology, reducing a large amount of stress and soreness. This heat is no hotter than body temperate, so feeling it would not be an issue (2). Lastly, as a very specific example, some insoles can provide insulation or battery powered heat for those who participate in snow sports and may get cold feet (3). While improvement in any design is always a possibility, the vast number of options for insoles makes it very ease for anyone to find a suitable match for their foot.