The Execution of the Eiffel Tower
The Execution of the Eiffel Tower
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Construction Process
The Eiffel Tower, an iconic symbol of Paris, was constructed between 1887 and 1889.
The Eiffel Tower, an iconic symbol of Paris, was constructed between 1887 and 1889.
Design and Planning
Design and Planning
Initial Proposal: In 1884, Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, two senior engineers working for Gustave Eiffel, conceived the design for a "great pylon, consisting of four lattice girders standing apart at the base and coming together at the top, joined together by metal trusses at regular intervals" (Loyrette 1985).
Design Refinement: Architect Stephen Sauvestre added decorative arches to the base, a glass pavilion to the first level, and other embellishments to enhance the tower's aesthetic appeal (Loyrette 1985).
Prefabrication
Prefabrication
Factory Preparation: All 18,038 iron pieces were prepared in Eiffel's factory in Levallois-Perret, on the outskirts of Paris (Harvie 2006).
Precision Engineering: Each piece was specifically designed and calculated, traced out to an accuracy of a tenth of a millimeter (Harvie 2006).
Foundation Work
Foundation Work
Construction Start Date: Work on the foundations started on 28 January 1887 (Harriss 1975).
Foundation Complexity: The west and north legs, being closer to the Seine, required more complex foundations using compressed-air caissons (Harriss 1975).
Foundation Completion: The foundations were laid on a bed of cement concrete 7 feet in thickness (Scientific American 1889).
On-Site Assembly
On-Site Assembly
Workforce: Between 150 and 300 workers assembled the tower on site (Harvie 2006).
Assembly Process: The prefabricated components were first bolted together, with the bolts being replaced with rivets as construction progressed (Harriss 1975).
Construction Techniques
Construction Techniques
Scaffolding: Wooden scaffolds up to 45 meters high were used for assembling the first floor.
Innovative Equipment: Small "creeper" cranes were installed on each leg, designed to move up the tower as construction progressed (Harriss 1975). Sand boxes and hydraulic jacks were used during construction to ensure accurate positioning (Sociéte d'Exploitation de la tour Eiffel 2022).
Riveting Process
Riveting Process
Riveting: Over 2.5 million rivets were used to hold the structure together (Harvie 2006).
Precision: The assembly was completed with remarkable precision, requiring no corrections during construction (Scientific American 1889).
Construction Timeline
Construction Timeline
Construction Period: The entire construction took two years, two months, and five days (Scientific American 1889).
First Level Completion: The critical stage of joining the legs at the first level was completed by the end of March 1888 (Harriss 1975).
Final Completion: Construction was completed on 31 March 1889, taking two years, two months, and five days in total (Harvie 2006).
Safety Measures
Safety Measures
Precautions: Due to Eiffel's safety precautions, including movable gangways, guardrails, and screens, only one person died during construction (Harriss 1975).
Engineering Achievement
Engineering Achievement
Structural Integrity: The tower's design allowed it to withstand wind forces and its own weight effectively (Scientific American 1889).
Material Use: The tower weighs approximately 7,300 tons, showcasing efficient use of materials (Scientific American 1889).
The Eiffel Tower's construction represents a significant achievement in civil engineering for its time. The precision engineering, innovative construction techniques, and efficient project management demonstrated by Eiffel and his team made the Eiffel Tower a pioneering structure in architectural and engineering history.
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