structural damage caused by thermal movement

The ancient Egyptians abandoned the pyramids because of structural damage caused by thermal movement, an expert has said.


Peter James, a structural engineer, has produced a new theory on what caused the demise of the pyramids in Egypt.

In 2011, James was charged with the task of saving the pyramid of Djoser, a 4,700-year-old structure that was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1992.
At the time, he said the biggest obstacle in trying to save it was forgetting everything he already knew about structural engineering.


"Everything you've learned about building techniques and architectural principals goes out of the window," he told the BBC. "You have to think like an ancient Egyptian, and come up with solutions appropriate to the original design."


In an article for Structure magazine, James said he now believes the damage caused to the pyramids was a result of thermal movement, where the limestone expanded and contracted because of temperature changes.
While working on the Step pyramid, James was asked his opinion on securing the Bent pyramid, 40km south of Cairo and an early example of pyramid design. It was built in about 2600 BC.

He noticed that although there was structural damage to the pyramid's extremities, it did not have any movement in its foundations.


sumber dari: ibtimes.co.uk