German engineering

[jriera]

Look what Germans can do!!!



500 M Euros, 918 meters long, 6 years construction!!

No, is not a photoshop

[Joeaksa]

And bet that its made to last 2-300 years at that.

[svandamme]

mhh, doesn't look really like german overengineering, it's to simple

no mechanical parts, nothing moving ,
in Belgium we just make a giant bathtub on rails , and lift the boats



although we have made aquaducts as well in 2002

[svandamme]

the modern boat lift in Belgium



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Str%C3%A9py-Thieu_boat_lift

75 meters
up to 1350 tonnes

[Jim727]

Ah - the Schiffsheberwerk. There's one north of Berlin in Niederfinow as well. Fascinating devices.

So - the "LubeMaster question of the day" is: Why lift the water??

[svandamme]

cause you want to raise the boats to a canal that links up with a higher river

[Jim727]

Originally posted by svandamme
cause you want to raise the boats to a canal that links up with a higher river

Nope - that's why you raise the boats, not why you raise the water.

[svandamme]

aah, you're talking about the aqua duct
though you talked about the lift

same reason though

to link up 2 rivers or water basins , via canal with a valley in between

[Jim727]

The lift uses mechanical lifting. Why lift the water instead of just the boats?

[Superman]

I'm a big fan of German engineering, but I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Falkirk Wheel. One of the most impressive and elegant/simple examples of modern engineering today.

[island911]

Falkirk Wheel. Brillant! Thanks Supe.

[svandamme]

Originally posted by Jim727
The lift uses mechanical lifting. Why lift the water instead of just the boats?

boats can just get into position on their own power on water

to lift them without the water, would require shoring, draining, botom protection , the works

they are built to float, not sit, especially not when fully loaded

it would take ages to make sure they are fully supported
when all they have to do , is lift the water along with the boat

[Aerkuld]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the Romans build aquaducts several (thousand) years before this?

Also check out some of the British Canal systems. There was some incredible engineering going on there. Look up the Anderton Boat lift...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderton_Boat_Lift


...built in 1875. Or try the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontcysyllte_Aqueduct


... a Thomas Telford creation opened in 1805. Not impressed yet, try the Standedge Tunnel opened in 1811...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standedge_Tunnels
..."the longest, deepest and highest canal tunnel in Britain. It is 5,500 yards (5029 m) long, 638 feet (194 m) underground at the deepest point and 645 feet (197 m) above sea level"

Just think of the technology that was available at that time and what these guys built. These are truely engineering masterpieces, in my opinion. If you're not familair with the British canals here is a little history lesson...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_British_canal_system

[svandamme]

true, but the Romans only funneld water through em , not even sure they had any big enough for even a row boat

[Aerkuld]

Originally posted by svandamme
true, but the Romans only funneld water through em , not even sure they had any big enough for even a row boat

But still, this is just an adaptation of an idea that was pioneered over two thousand years ago. Just puts it into perspective.

[Super_Dave_D]

Originally posted by Aerkuld
But still, this is just an adaptation of an idea that was pioneered over two thousand years ago. Just puts it into perspective.

And parts of the Roman ones still stand today

[red-beard]

Completed in 1825 - "Clinton's Ditch" - The Erie Canal

[red-beard]

1835 Lithograph of the Lower Mohawk River Aqueduct

[Aerkuld]

Clinton's Ditch??
Didn't Al Gore invent the aquaduct?

[Rot 911]

Look what Americans can do!