Design Department Weekly Technical Quiz

Issue Number 63 (9th to 13th May 2011)

Questions for This Week

Answer of the Last Weeks Questions

Q.125) The Enabling structures are usually governed by

a) stresses in them b) deflections in them c) stresses and deflection both d) durability

Q.126) The cross word puzzle was invented by

a) Robert Adler b) Arthur Wynne c) Neil Arnott d) Joseph Aspdin

Q.123) The minimum clear radius of bending for HYSD reinforcement bars is

ANS: Four times the dia of the bar

a) 10 times the diameter of the bar b) Four times the dia of the bar c) More than the Tor steel bars d) All above

Q.124) The largest church (In terms of area) in the world is ANS: Basilica of St.Peter, Vatican City, Rome

a) Cathedral of Seville, Seville, Spain b) Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Fatima, Portugal c) San Petronio, Bologna, Italy d) Basilica of St. Peter, Vatican City, Rome

Thought of the Week

Birds that live in a lake will fly away when the lake dries. But the lotus that

grows in the same lake will die with the lake. So recognize the birds in your life.

Author Unknown

Wonders of the World Fiera Milano Milan, Italy The Fiera Milano complex incorporates eight exhibition

halls, totaling 345,000 square meters of space, in addition to restaurants, bars, offices, and an assembly hall. The unique feature of the complex is an undulating glass-and-

steel canopy that stretches for 1,300 meters, connecting the myriad buildings and funneling light into the spaces

below.

The complex spatial geometry of this roof structure forced the engineers to develop an irregular grid system: the volcano-like protuberance near the entrance is formed by

a square mesh, the free-formed portion of the canopy is formed by rhombic meshes, and some triangular meshes

are used in the areas of double curvature. The engineers put the design through wind-tunnel tests to ensure that it

would handle the loads.

The unpredictable curves of the Fiera Milano are reminiscent of the work of Frank Gehry, who's known for

working closely with his engineers to realize such complex forms. In the case of the Fiera Milano, architect Massimiliano Fuksas simply delivered his sketch to the engineers at Schlaich Bergermann und Partner, who then

set about to build it as it was.