DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1117#0041
2 FERROCONCRETE SOLVES STRUCTURAL PROBLEM
Alterna- At the same time, whenever this intrusive material was removed, there
support-6" was nothing to prevent the remains of the upper fabric from crashing down
ing upper to a lower level. For the benefit of those who had not an opportunity of
of com- following in a practical capacity the long" course of this arduous work, it is
peterum. necessary once more to repeat that those who took part in it were con-
fronted with only two alternatives. Either, at every step, the overlyina mass
had to be re-supported, or excavation itself would have reduced the remains
of the upper stories—held up and preserved to us in such a marvellous
fashion—to one indistinguishable heap of ruins.
Earlier Such a catastrophic result was combated at first by means of wooden
materials \ . ... ^^u^u
employed beams and posts, which, however, in the Cretan climate of violent chances
factory" showed a rapid tendency to rot. These were at first replaced by piers of
masonry and shafts and capitals of columns laboriously cut out of stone,
while upper pavements were supported by means of brickwork arches
resting on iron girders. The expense of procuring from over sea girders
of a length and calibre sufficient to span the larger halls was itself prohibi-
tive. Owing, moreover, to the exposed character of the access to Candia
by sea previous to the construction of the new port, and the frequency of
fierce North-Westerly gales, the landing of the necessary materials was
always a risky operation, and it has been already mentioned that two of
the largest girders shipped from England lie at the bottom of the old
harbour.
Problem Under these circumstances the introduction of the use of reinforced
use of concrete was a real godsend, besides ensuring the additional advantage
ferro- t]iaj. tne new wor]. ;s aj once distinguishable by the spectator. Piers and
concrete. .
columns, with their capitals superimposed, could thus be moulded and
the platforms of whole floors laid on over even the largest spaces, while the
floors themselves at the same time have given a much necessary compaction
to the surrounding walls.
Results Tlle work of reconstitution already carried out in the important
Earth- blocks throughout both wings of the Palace has been now tested by two
JmcPand earthquakes. The serious shock of June 26, 1926, that ruined houses in
193°- the neighbouring village and damaged the Museum in Candia, left even the
upper structures of the Palace practically unscathed. That of February
1930, which was also severely felt on the site and throughout the neigh-
bouring district, put a severe strain on the more recent reconstructions,
which, however, they successfully resisted. It is worth remarking, more-
over, that the only slight damage produced by these seismic shocks was
the horizontal dislocation, to the extent of a few centimetres only, of a section
Alterna- At the same time, whenever this intrusive material was removed, there
support-6" was nothing to prevent the remains of the upper fabric from crashing down
ing upper to a lower level. For the benefit of those who had not an opportunity of
of com- following in a practical capacity the long" course of this arduous work, it is
peterum. necessary once more to repeat that those who took part in it were con-
fronted with only two alternatives. Either, at every step, the overlyina mass
had to be re-supported, or excavation itself would have reduced the remains
of the upper stories—held up and preserved to us in such a marvellous
fashion—to one indistinguishable heap of ruins.
Earlier Such a catastrophic result was combated at first by means of wooden
materials \ . ... ^^u^u
employed beams and posts, which, however, in the Cretan climate of violent chances
factory" showed a rapid tendency to rot. These were at first replaced by piers of
masonry and shafts and capitals of columns laboriously cut out of stone,
while upper pavements were supported by means of brickwork arches
resting on iron girders. The expense of procuring from over sea girders
of a length and calibre sufficient to span the larger halls was itself prohibi-
tive. Owing, moreover, to the exposed character of the access to Candia
by sea previous to the construction of the new port, and the frequency of
fierce North-Westerly gales, the landing of the necessary materials was
always a risky operation, and it has been already mentioned that two of
the largest girders shipped from England lie at the bottom of the old
harbour.
Problem Under these circumstances the introduction of the use of reinforced
use of concrete was a real godsend, besides ensuring the additional advantage
ferro- t]iaj. tne new wor]. ;s aj once distinguishable by the spectator. Piers and
concrete. .
columns, with their capitals superimposed, could thus be moulded and
the platforms of whole floors laid on over even the largest spaces, while the
floors themselves at the same time have given a much necessary compaction
to the surrounding walls.
Results Tlle work of reconstitution already carried out in the important
Earth- blocks throughout both wings of the Palace has been now tested by two
JmcPand earthquakes. The serious shock of June 26, 1926, that ruined houses in
193°- the neighbouring village and damaged the Museum in Candia, left even the
upper structures of the Palace practically unscathed. That of February
1930, which was also severely felt on the site and throughout the neigh-
bouring district, put a severe strain on the more recent reconstructions,
which, however, they successfully resisted. It is worth remarking, more-
over, that the only slight damage produced by these seismic shocks was
the horizontal dislocation, to the extent of a few centimetres only, of a section