Feasibility study of Leonardo da Vinci's bridge proposal over the Golden Horn in Istanbul

This thesis investigates the feasibility of a masonry arch bridge proposed by Leonardo da Vinci (1452 -1519). Leonardo wrote a proposal in 1502-1503 for a masonry bridge spanning over the Golden Horn in present-day Istanbul, Turkey. The design was a response to an invitation by the Sultan Bayezid II (1447-1512) to construct a bridge connecting Galata and Istanbul. Had Leonardo's design been constructed, at a span of roughly 280 meters, it would have been the one of the longest spans in the pre-Industrial world. This thesis examines Leonardo's proposal. assesses the proposed location and geometry, and determines the feasibility of the design through a structural analysis. As the proposed bridge is a masonry structure, the most critical structural factors include geometric stability and the response to support displacements. Both of these factors are tested through analytical means and a 3D physical model supported by moveable abutments. The combination of the initial stability, the kinematic mechanism under spreading supports, and the geotechnical conditions demonstrates the bridge's feasibility.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Bast, Karly Maria.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• John A. Ochsendorf.

• Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/123216

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/123216