Statue of Liberty Is One Term Paper

The construction of the Statue of Liberty was beset with a number of difficult engineering problems. Importance among these were the practical considerations of how the statue would withstand the strong winds off New York Bay, and how it would support 100 tons of copperplate on its 151-foot frame (Corrosion Doctors).

In answer to these challenges, engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (famous for his work on the Eiffel tower) was brought on board the project. He designed the iron pylon and secondary skeletal framework of the statue. This framework enables the copper skin of the statue to move, while remaining in an upright position (Statue of Liberty.org). The skeleton of the statue is 94 ft. high that supports a secondary iron frame which contained a system of flat wrought iron bars. It is these iron bars that hold the copperplate of the statue's skin (Corrosion Doctors).

Another smaller frame supports the head. Similarly a small 47-foot 7-inch skeleton makes up the arm that holds the torch. Farm is designed to withstand a wind load of 58 psf, and moves only three inches in a 50 mph wind (Corrosion Doctors).

The pedestal of the vast Statue of Liberty was designed by American Richard M. Hunt and built by Gen. Charles Stone. French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel designed the pedestal's steel underpinnings (Corrosion Doctors).Athletically, the Statue of Liberty remains an attractive structure. A "noble rust' as Italians call it, which gives copper and bronze so beautiful a surface color, covered the Statue of Liberty with a malachite green that does not disintegrate the metal as rust devours iron" (Corrosion Doctors).

The Statue of Liberty is an imposing structure built on a grand scale. The total statue weight is 450,000 lbs. The height from the foundation of the pedestal to the top of the torch is 305 ft. 6 in. The copper covering of the statue itself is less than the thickness of two pennies, at 3/32." There are 154 steps leading from the pedestal to the head of the statue (Statue of Liberty.org).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Statue of Liberty is a notable structure in many ways. While the structure is likely best known as a symbol of American freedom, it also has a significant history. The architectural style of the Statue was inspired by a number of great Egyptian sculptures, and the construction and materials also reflect the grand scale and significance of the Statue of Liberty.

Works Cited

Corrosion Doctors. Statue of Liberty Construction. 04 November 2004. http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Landmarks/statue-construction.htm

Glass and Steel and Stone. Statue of Liberty. 04 November 2004. http://www.glasssteelandstone.com/U.S./NY/NewYorkStatueofLiberty.html

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