“…Seismic Isolators are devices that allow the bridge to move in an earthquake; this movement reduces the forces that the bridge experiences during the earthquake.” —excerpted from a Golden Gate Bridge exhibit.
This Seismic Isolator has been cut in half to illustrate how layers of steel and rubber are bonded together to form a three-foot diameter cylinder that supports the structure at key points. These isolators can reduce the seismic forces by as much as two-thirds when compared to a non-isolated bridge.
Seismic Isolator
Photo © Allan G. Smorra, All Rights Reserved
Photo Notes: iPhone 5 camera, shot with Camera+ app, edited in Snapseed.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Layers
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THIS is amazing! The technology was eventually applied to new construction wasn’t it Allan?
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It is holding up the bridge as we speak.
Sent from my iPhone
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I know, I read about your beloved bridge through your Blog and I also googled it when we first started writing. It’s a wonderful thing PLUS that Video : ))))
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Shockingly good photo. 🙂
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It is even more impressive when viewed close up.
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Great photo – is that slight wavy compression in the core from previous earthquakes?
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I think it is from the process of slicing it in half.
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I’m intrigued by the image–reminds me of an abstract sculpture rather than a utilitarian object.
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Good observation. I can see it your way easily now.
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Bloggers blog to connect and communicate and are presumed to be creative people. I prefer text with my images so thanks for including a quote and some explanatory text above. Granted that pictures are worth thousands of words and the layers are, of course, visible in the image, but I have grown tired of visiting blogs of those who are too lazy to post text with their images.
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Thank you for your comment. I started out in the “less is more” school of accompanying text with photos and over time I have embraced text as necessary background information/explanation.
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I’d like to second this thought. I would have thought the picture was an accordion.
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Surprise!
Thanks for taking the time to comment. This challenge was fun.
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“Lazy”? Not everyone is eloquent nor chooses/feels able to provide text with their images – it is the blogger’s prerogative to do as they feel and not as their readers desire….
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