Eiffel Tower

FACTS
• Height – 324 m
• Located in Champ de Mars, Paris
• Iron Lattice Tower
• Named after its engineer, Gusatve Eiffel
• The tower has three levels for visitors

– Restaurants on the first & second

– Observatory on the third

Construction started 28 January 1887

Completed 15 March 1889

Opening 31 March 1889

Design of the Eiffel Tower was
originated by Maurice
Koechlin and Émile Nouguier, two
senior engineers

Described by Koechlin as "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 Stephen Sauvestre
regular intervals"
Initially Gustave Eiffel himself
showed little enthusiasm, but he did
sanction further study of the project
It was only after the head architect,
Sauvestre added decorative arches to
the base, a glass pavilion to the first
level, and other embellishments did
the design grab Gustav Eiffel’s praise

Gustave Eiffel
Initial drawing of Eiffel Tower by
Maurice Koechlin
Foundations
The foundation of the Eiffel Tower was very
important because it needed to be able to
successfully hold a load of about 10,000 tons.
As a result of the weak soil, Gustave Eiffel
created a two-system foundation for the Eiffel
Tower.
Use of Caissons
The North and West pillars of the
Eiffel Tower were close to the
Seine River. It caused serious
problems to the foundations since
a stable soil was needed to build
the Eiffel Tower.
The use of casings alllowed the
engineers to take up the
challenge and avoid water leaks
while reinforcing the foundations
with the adding of brickwork and
concrete. It only took four months
for the foundations then the
building of the pillars started.
Construction
stages of the
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower’s base is composed of four
legs. In these legs are 2 anchor bolts that are
each 26 feet long and 4 inches in diameter.
One part of Eiffel’s plan for the foundation of
the structure was the placement of a
hydraulic jack. The hydraulic jack was used
to enable the raising or lowing of the platform
to make certain it was level.

Erecting the metal work

7 December 1887:
Construction of the legs
with scaffolding.
20 March 1888:
Completion of 1st level.
15 May 1888: Start
of construction of
second stage.
21 August 1888:
Completion to
2nd level
26 December
1888:
Construction of
upper stage
15 March
1889:
Construction
of cupola
 Materials
The puddled
iron (wrought iron)
structure of the
Eiffel Tower
weighs 7,300
tonnes, while the
entire structure,
including non-
metal
components, is
approximately
10,000 tonnes
Depending on the ambient
temperature, the top of the tower may
shift away from the sun by up to 18 cm
(7.1 in) because of thermal View from
expansion of the metal on the side below the tower
Vertical Transports

Three
lifts (North,
East, and
West pillars )
will take you
up to the 1st
and 2nd
floors
(115m). To
visit the top
floor (276m),
visitors
needs to
change lifts
at 2nd floor
 Maintenance

Maintenance of the tower includes

applying 50 to 60 tonnes (49 to 59 long
tons; 55 to 66 short tons) of paint
every seven years to protect it
from rust. The height of the Eiffel
Tower varies by 15 cm (5.9 in) due to
temperature.
Eiffel Tower during the Bastille Day

Bastille Day is the name

given in English-speaking
countries to
the French National Day,
which is celebrated on 14
July each year
Views
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