pm case study-falkirk wheel
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TRANSCRIPT
Near Falkirk in Scotland, the Forth & Near Falkirk in Scotland, the Forth & Clyde Canal meets with the Union Clyde Canal meets with the Union Canal, however at their meeting Canal, however at their meeting point the two differ in height by point the two differ in height by approximately 115 feet. approximately 115 feet.
Before the 1930s, travel between Before the 1930s, travel between these canals was provided by a these canals was provided by a series of eleven conventional locks, series of eleven conventional locks, but they became disused and were but they became disused and were filled in about seventy-five years ago. filled in about seventy-five years ago.
A brilliant, one-of-a-kind contraption A brilliant, one-of-a-kind contraption was engineered which uses gravity was engineered which uses gravity and Archimedes’ principle to transfer and Archimedes’ principle to transfer boats between the two canals using boats between the two canals using very little electricity very little electricity
Falkirk WheelFalkirk Wheel
The Wheel is essentially two huge, The Wheel is essentially two huge, balanced water tanks suspended on balanced water tanks suspended on arms which rotate around a central arms which rotate around a central axis like a Ferris wheel. axis like a Ferris wheel.
Each tank can support up to four Each tank can support up to four twenty-meter-long boats at one time. twenty-meter-long boats at one time. Boats move into the tanks through Boats move into the tanks through the lock gates, which displaces a the lock gates, which displaces a mass of water from each tank equal mass of water from each tank equal to the weight of the vessels. to the weight of the vessels.
Archimedes' principleArchimedes' principle
Floating objects displace their own Floating objects displace their own weight in water, so when the boat weight in water, so when the boat enters, the amount of water leaving enters, the amount of water leaving the caisson weighs exactly the same the caisson weighs exactly the same as the boat. as the boat.
The tanks are thus always equalized in The tanks are thus always equalized in weight, allowing the pull of gravity weight, allowing the pull of gravity on the descending tank to do most on the descending tank to do most of the work elevating the rising of the work elevating the rising tank. tank.
This balance allows the wheel to This balance allows the wheel to consume very little electricity per consume very little electricity per turn despite the enormous weight turn despite the enormous weight involved. It uses a mere 1.5 kilowatt-involved. It uses a mere 1.5 kilowatt-hours, or roughly the equivalent hours, or roughly the equivalent power needed to boil eight kettles of power needed to boil eight kettles of water, each time it hefts a 600 water, each time it hefts a 600 metric ton load. It does this in under metric ton load. It does this in under four minutes per turn. four minutes per turn.
The Wheel’s design is truly The Wheel’s design is truly revolutionary, as it is the only revolutionary, as it is the only rotating boat lift in the world. Its rotating boat lift in the world. Its beautiful form– reminiscent of a beautiful form– reminiscent of a Celtic double-headed ax– and its Celtic double-headed ax– and its graceful movement have made it a graceful movement have made it a bit of a tourist destination, with a bit of a tourist destination, with a visitor’s center, a café, and visitor’s center, a café, and landscaped grounds nestled in the landscaped grounds nestled in the natural amphitheater. natural amphitheater.
FeaturesFeatures First structure of its kind in the First structure of its kind in the
world.world. Design life of at least 120 years.Design life of at least 120 years. 35 metres high.35 metres high. 35 metres wide. 35 metres wide. 30 metres long.30 metres long. Each gondola contains at least Each gondola contains at least
250,000 litres of water.250,000 litres of water. Capable of carrying eight boats at a Capable of carrying eight boats at a
time.time. A single trip takes 15 minutes.A single trip takes 15 minutes.
Show
PrevodnicaEn
ConstructionConstruction
The wheel was constructed by The wheel was constructed by ButterleyButterley Engineering at Ripley in Engineering at Ripley in Derbyshire under Millennium Plans to Derbyshire under Millennium Plans to reconnect the Forth and Clyde Canal reconnect the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal, mainly for with the Union Canal, mainly for recreational use.recreational use.
OperationOperation The wheel rotates together with the axle, which is The wheel rotates together with the axle, which is
supported by four-metre-diameter slewingsupported by four-metre-diameter slewing bearings that are constructed on top of piled bearings that are constructed on top of piled foundations.foundations.
The slewing bearing has an inner ring gear which The slewing bearing has an inner ring gear which acts as a rotating annulus.acts as a rotating annulus.
The rotating annulus is driven by ten hydraulic The rotating annulus is driven by ten hydraulic motors on the motors on the planet carrier.planet carrier.
The drive-shafts of the motors have pinion gears The drive-shafts of the motors have pinion gears which act as stationary planetary gears in this which act as stationary planetary gears in this train of gears and engage the rotating annulus train of gears and engage the rotating annulus ring gear.ring gear.
An electric motor drives a hydraulic pump which An electric motor drives a hydraulic pump which is connected to the hydraulic motors by means of is connected to the hydraulic motors by means of hoses and drive the wheel at 1/8 revolution per hoses and drive the wheel at 1/8 revolution per minute.minute.
BW Scotland chief BW Scotland chief civil engineer, civil engineer, George Ballinger George Ballinger had to complete a had to complete a five year five year construction construction project in two.project in two.
ChallengeChallenge
PlanningPlanning
Bachy/Soletanche and Morrison (BSM) Bachy/Soletanche and Morrison (BSM) Construction Joint Venture won the Construction Joint Venture won the contract to design and construct a new contract to design and construct a new section of canal, a tunnel beneath the section of canal, a tunnel beneath the Antonine wall, a section of aqueduct, the Antonine wall, a section of aqueduct, the wheel and receiving basin. wheel and receiving basin.
PlanningPlanning
The exemplar design was perceived as The exemplar design was perceived as unsuitable by British Waterways, therefore a unsuitable by British Waterways, therefore a series of design workshops took place under the series of design workshops took place under the direction of the architect RMJM to improve on direction of the architect RMJM to improve on the aesthetics of the design. the aesthetics of the design.
Team members were instructed to attend these Team members were instructed to attend these workshops with just blank paper and an open workshops with just blank paper and an open mind.mind.
Two weeks of this style of brainstorming Two weeks of this style of brainstorming developed the actual designdeveloped the actual design
ControllingControlling
UK design codes for bridges, buildings and UK design codes for bridges, buildings and floating vessels were utilised, as well as floating vessels were utilised, as well as Norwegian, German and American codes for Norwegian, German and American codes for such criteria as thin walled cylinder such criteria as thin walled cylinder behaviour and constrained ice loading. behaviour and constrained ice loading.
A 1:50 scale model was used in a wind-A 1:50 scale model was used in a wind-tunnel for testing aerodynamic effects. tunnel for testing aerodynamic effects. Finite element analysis using LUSAS Finite element analysis using LUSAS BridgeBridge aided the structural design and included aided the structural design and included nonlinear solid continuum modelling of nonlinear solid continuum modelling of movement sensitive connections.movement sensitive connections.
ControllingControlling
The various parts of The Falkirk Wheel The various parts of The Falkirk Wheel were actually constructed and were actually constructed and assembled, like one giant Meccano set, assembled, like one giant Meccano set, at Butterley Engineering’s Steelworks at Butterley Engineering’s Steelworks in Derbyshire. A team there carefully in Derbyshire. A team there carefully assembled the 1,200 tonnes of steel, assembled the 1,200 tonnes of steel, painstakingly fitting the pieces painstakingly fitting the pieces together to an accuracy of just 10 mm together to an accuracy of just 10 mm to ensure a perfect final fit. to ensure a perfect final fit.
ControllingControlling
In the summer of 2001, the structure In the summer of 2001, the structure was then dismantled and transported was then dismantled and transported on 35 lorry loads to Falkirk, before all on 35 lorry loads to Falkirk, before all being bolted back together again on being bolted back together again on the ground, and finally lifted by crane the ground, and finally lifted by crane in five large sections into position. in five large sections into position.
ControllingControlling
The total 600 tonne weight of the The total 600 tonne weight of the water and boat filled gondolas water and boat filled gondolas imposes immense and constantly imposes immense and constantly changing stresses on the structure as changing stresses on the structure as it turns around the central spine. it turns around the central spine.
ControllingControlling
Normal welded joints of steel would Normal welded joints of steel would be susceptible to fatigue induced by be susceptible to fatigue induced by these stresses, so to make the these stresses, so to make the structure more robust, the steel structure more robust, the steel sections were bolted together. sections were bolted together.
Over 15,000 bolts were matched with Over 15,000 bolts were matched with 45,000 bolt holes, and each bolt was 45,000 bolt holes, and each bolt was hand tightened. hand tightened.
Cost and pricingCost and pricing The Falkirk Wheel cost £17.5 million, and the restoration The Falkirk Wheel cost £17.5 million, and the restoration
project as a whole cost £84.5 million (of which £32 project as a whole cost £84.5 million (of which £32 million came from National Lottery funds).million came from National Lottery funds).
The Falkirk Wheel Visitor Centre offers scheduled one-The Falkirk Wheel Visitor Centre offers scheduled one-hour, round trip boat tours, called "The Falkirk Wheel hour, round trip boat tours, called "The Falkirk Wheel Experience", that include passage on the wheel. The Experience", that include passage on the wheel. The tours start below the wheel in the Forth & Clyde Canal, tours start below the wheel in the Forth & Clyde Canal, ascend via the wheel to the Union Canal, visit nearby ascend via the wheel to the Union Canal, visit nearby areas on the Union Canal, and then return.areas on the Union Canal, and then return.
As of 2008, the boat tour costs £8 for adults, £4.25 for As of 2008, the boat tour costs £8 for adults, £4.25 for children aged 3-15 (free for children under 3), OAP children aged 3-15 (free for children under 3), OAP concession £6.50, student/state benefits concession concession £6.50, student/state benefits concession £6.50, and family price of £21.50 (2 adults and 2 £6.50, and family price of £21.50 (2 adults and 2 children) with a discount of 10% for a group of 20 or children) with a discount of 10% for a group of 20 or more.more.
Due to flooding caused by vandals, Due to flooding caused by vandals, there was a month’s delay before there was a month’s delay before going into operation, but on 24 May going into operation, but on 24 May 2002 the Falkirk Wheel officially 2002 the Falkirk Wheel officially opened as part of Queen Elizabeth’s opened as part of Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Thank youThank you
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