Vladimir Shukhov

Vladimir Grigoryevich Shukhov (1853 – 1939) was a Russian engineer-polymath, scientist and architect renowned for his pioneering works on new methods of analysis for structural engineering that led to breakthroughs* in industrial design of world's first hyperboloid structures*, diagrid shell structures*, tensile structures*, gridshell structures*, oil reservoirs, pipelines, boilers, ships and barges.

Besides the innovations he brought to the oil industry and the construction of numerous bridges and buildings, Shukhov was the inventor of a new family of doubly curved structural forms. These forms, based on non-Euclidean hyperbolic geometry, are known today as hyperboloids of revolution. Shukhov developed not only many varieties of light-weight hyperboloid towers and roof systems, but also the mathematics for their analysis. Shukhov is particularly reputed for his original designs of hyperboloid towers such as the Shukhov Tower (see the picture below).

He was born in a small town in Kursk province (in present-day Belgorod Oblast). His father was the Director of the local branch of the St. Petersburg state bank. At the age of 11, Vladimir entered Saint Petersburg gymnasium. Already as a schoolboy, he showed mathematical talents, once demonstrating to his classmates and teacher an original proof of the Pythagorean theorem. He graduated with distinction and a Gold Medal in 1871 and entered the Emperor's Moscow Technical School in Moscow (now the Moscow State Technical University - MGTU ). They proposed to him a job as a lecturer in mathematics at the Imperial Moscow Technical School, but Shukhov decided to seek a job in the industry instead. Shukhov participated in the trip to USA, the aim of which was the collecting of information about the latest technical achievements. Shukhov visited the World exhibition in Philadelphia and studied the arrangement of the American railway transport. For some time, he stayed in Philadelphia to work on the Russian pavilion at the World's Fair and to study the inner workings of the American industry.

On coming back to Russia, Shukhov assumed the office of Chief Engineer in a new company specializing in innovative engineering. In 1892 Shukhov built his first railway bridges. In the subsequent years 417 bridges were built according to his projects at the different railway lines. Simultaneously with the construction of bridges Shukhov started the development of the overhead cover structures. Shukhov managed to design and practically realize the structures of various coverings distinguishing with such a principal novelty, that it would be just enough for him to take a special, honorable place among the famous engineers-builders of that time. Till 1890 Shukhov created exclusively light arch structures with thin inclined tightening. Even today these arches serve as bearing elements of the glass vault over the biggest Moscow shops: GUM and Petrovskiy arcade.

In 1895, Shukhov submitted the claim for a patent on lattice coverings in the form of shells. That meant lattices from strip and angle steel with rhombus-shaped cells. They were used to build the big-span light hanging coverings and lattice vaults. The development of these lattice coverings marked the creation of a completely new type of bearing structure. For the first time Shukhov shaped a hanging covering into a finished spatial structure, which was used again only decades later. Even in comparison with the structure of metal vaults highly developed by that time, his lattice vaults formed only of one type of core elements represented a significant step forward. In this connection, in his basic research of the metal construction structures.

During the All-Russia exhibition in Nizhniy Novgorod in 1896 Shukhov presented to the public's judgment his new structures of the overhead covers. Totally, there were built eight exhibition pavilions of the sufficiently impressive sizes. Besides, in the center of one of the halls with lattice hanging covering there was a hanging covering made of thin tin-plate (membrane), which had never been used earlier in construction. Besides those pavilions, there was built a unique lattice steel water tower in the form of a hyperboloid shell. The constructions got wide resonance and the foreign press reported in detail about Shukhov's structures. The surprise was caused by a high technical perfection of the constructions. The success at the exhibition may for certain explain the fact that in the subsequent years Shukhov got a lot of orders for the construction of factory workshops, roofed railway platforms and water towers.

One of his works was the workshop with spatially bent lattice shells for the metallurgical plant built in Vyksa (a town in Nizhny Novgorod region) in 1897. In comparison with ordinary vaults with a single curvature this structure meant a significant constructional improvement. Luckily, this bold structure of the overhead cover, the early predecessor of the modern lattice shells, has preserved in the small provincial town until now.

The structure of the tower, exhibited at Nizhniy Novgorod, which was a lattice steel shell in the form of a hyperboloid of rotation, enjoyed the biggest commercial success. Shukhov patented this invention shortly before the opening of the exhibition. The shell of the hyperboloid of rotation was a completely new constructional form, never used before. It allowed creating a spatially bent lattice surface out of straight cores installed with an inclination. As a result, the structure of the tower turned out to be light and rigid. At the height of 25.60 meters, the Nizhniy Novgorod water tower carried a tank with a capacity of 114.000 liters to supply the whole territory of the exhibition with water.

The first in the world hyperboloid structure designed by V. Shukhov in 1896. (Nizhniy Novgorod, All-Russian Fair)

This world's first hyperboloid tower has remained one of the most beautiful constructions of Shukhov. It was sold to a rich landowner Nechaev-Maltsev, who installed it in his estate Polibino near Lipetsk. The tower stays there even today. The immediately increased demand for water towers brought a lot of orders. In comparison with ordinary towers, the Shukhov's lattice tower was more convenient and cheaper in respect of constructional techniques.

After the October Revolution, Shukhov decided to stay in the Soviet Union despite having received alluring job offers from around the world. Many Soviet engineering projects of the 1920s were associated with his name. In 1919 he framed his slogan: We should work independently from politics. The buildings, boilers, beams would be needed and so would we. After the Soviet Russia had been formed, Shukhov got one of the main constructional orders: the construction of a tower for the radio station in Shabolovka in Moscow. The tower was the further modification of lattice hyperboloid structures and it consisted of six blocks of the appropriate form. In 1922, the radio station tower was put in operation. This unbelievably light, openwork tower with details, that win over by their simplicity and the original form, is the pattern of a brilliant structure and the acme of the constructional art. The construction of the Shukhov Tower caused general delight.

In the later 1930s during the Great Purge* he retired from engineering work but was not arrested or persecuted. Shukov died on February 2, 1939 in Moscow and was buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery. His many honours included the Lenin Prize (1929) and the title of Hero of Labour (1932).

Notes:

* breakthrough - прорыв (например, в науке или технике)

* the Great Purge ( = “Великая чистка”) It  was a campaign of political repression in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin from 1936 to 1939. It involved a large-scale purge of the Communist Party and government officials, repression of peasants, Red Army leadership, and widespread police surveillance, suspicion of "saboteurs", imprisonment, and arbitrary executions.

* hyperboloid structures - гиперболоидные конструкции, т.е. сооружения в форме однополостного гиперболоида или гиперболического параболоида. Такие конструкции, несмотря на свою кривизну, строятся из прямых балок.

*diagrid shell structures – оболочечная конструкция с использованием перекрытия из диагональных перекрестных элементов

*tensile structure - растяжимая конструкция

*gridshell structures – решетчатая оболочечная конструкция

*doubly curved structural forms – конструкционные формы с двойным изгибом

*non-Euclidean hyperbolic geometry - неевклидова гиперболическая геометрия

Questions:

1. How did Shukhov study at the gymnasium and at the Imperial Moscow Technical School?

2. Do you agree that a good education is a precondition of the future career? Give your reasons.

3. How would you characterize Vladimir Shukhov as a person?

4. What slogan did Vladimir Shukhov have? Do you agree with him? Why?

5. If not, which slogan would you make up?

6. Which of Shukhov`s works would you refer to the greatest achievements in engineering? Why?

7. Tell your opinion in regard of the innovations introduced by V. Shukhov.

8. Do you think that hyperboloid structures have a great perspective in the future? Can you think of an example of its application at present?

Exercise 1

Find the English equivalents in the text of the following Russian words and word groups:

арочные конструкции; высшая точка( кульминационный пункт, совершенство); гиперболоидные конструкции; жесткий; изгиб (в конструкции); инновации; конструкционные формы с двойным изгибом; модификация (изменение); несущая конструкция; оболочечная конструкция ; прорыв (в науке или технике); пространственно изогнутые решетчатые оболочки; растяжимая конструкция; решетчатая башенная конструкция; решетчатая оболочечная конструкция; решетчатые оболочки; решетчатые своды; широко образованный человек ( крупный ученый)

Exercise 2

Match the words/word groups from the B section to the definitions in the A section:

A

1. to have a good reputation

2. the latest achievement in science or engineering;

3. alteration of a technical device;

4. upper point, perfect condition;

5. structures such as towers designed with hyperbolic geometry;

6. versatile scientist

7. attractive

8. bending (in a structure)

B hyperboloid structures; breakthrough; innovations; to be reputed; modification; the acme; polymath, alluring; curvature

Exercise 3

Write a definition to the following: novelty; shells; to get wide resonance; predecessor; to be put in operation; delight; to be renowned for.

Exercise 4

Translate the sentences paying attention at the infinitive and infinitive constructions:

1. In order to reduce the possible risk of ecological violations in nature on the scale of the Earth, several technical solutions are offered by the scientists.

2. The Romans made extensive use of the arch to distribute thrust more evenly.

3. We expect the builders to show good results.

4. The usual design technique is to check the footing stresses in order to assure the adequate thickness.

5. Galvanised steel bolts are used to connect the wall panel to the roof beam above.

6. To keep the masonry everywhere in compression is the main object of the structural design.

7. The method permits high-strength concrete to be used economically.

8. The purpose is to reduce shrinkage cracking.

9. The buildings have to be given additional bracing.

10. To enter the profession in Italy, individuals are required to first obtain a degree in Architecture, or a degree in Building Engineering/ Architecture, then to receive professional qualification, obtained by passing a state exam which consists of four tests (three written and one oral).

11. All concrete below the neutral axis is considered to be in tension and cracked, and therefore ineffective.

12. The purpose of our investigation was to study the effect of welding on the spatial deformations development and stability of construction elements.

13. It is impossible to erect modern buildings without the knowledge of new techniques.

14. A factor to consider is the space between the roof structure and the ceiling.

15. Reconstruction of the rural settlements distribution under new social – economic conditions should be done on the basis of realizing its planning structure hierarchy.

16. Graphic images allow to receive detailed data about the physical condition of the building, to trace sequence and sequence of repair works, and also to plan expenses for repair.

Exercise 5

Write an annotation to the text. Your annotation should be no loner that 5- 6 sentences.

Home Task