The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Keywords: Tilting , Alluvium Foundation

Stabilisation, Modeling

By : Mr. Tom Chlayon ID 75327620

Supervisor : Dr. Parthasarathi Mandal
Outline
•The Background
– The Geometry and the Ground Condition
– Construction timelines and events
– The impact of the construction time
•The model
– Problems and Model setup
– Important Relevant Factors
– Other analysis methods for comparing the results
 The Background:
The Geometry and The Ground Condition

•Site Geometry
– Baptistry and the bell tower are alike in
geometry but different in base diameter and
height.
– Locate 10 km from the Ligurian sea
– Tower structure is hollow cylinder type and
masonry structure.
•Ground condition Top view sketch of the site
– No records of ground conditions in early
construction era (1100s).
– Alluvium sea deposit soil type.
– Sandwich layer of sand and clay soil.
– Thinner sand layer below tower southern
base.
– Direct fault line beneath the tower.
– Several severe earthquake were spotted in
the area.
– The ground disturbing activity make the
present differ from the past Soil profile beneath (AGI 1991)
 The Background:
Construction timelines and events
 The Background:
The impact of the construction time
•The structural instability may causes cumulative inclinations
over period of times.
•Seismic and earthquake may cause liquefaction and
deformation in soils.
•The changing of ground water level effects the inclination rate.
•Direct ground disturbances cause an instantly inclination
 The model:
Problems and setting up models
•Perform 2D analysis of critical overturning point (a
selected research problem)
•The setup of geometry can be modeled as a
display sketch; a center of mass ,an incline angle,
a tower weight, related soil layers, and overburden
on the ground.
•Material properties
– Soil behavior
– Structure behavior
– Ground water levelmode
The failure
•Select mesh size and type for the problems
 The model:
Important Relevant Factors

•Major
– Ground water levels
– Soil properties
– Tower geometry
– Seismic and Earthquake loads
– Disturbances of the ground
•Minor
– Salt water intrusion
– Oxidation reaction in the foundations
– Seasoning effects (maybe long term)
– Temperature changes

Tower Geometry(BAJ, 1990)

 The model:
Other analysis methods for comparing the results

•Small scale experimental models

•Partial full scale simulation test
•Hand calculation
– Overturning stability
– Consolidation
Experimental Model Test
– Creep analysis
 References

– ATZENI, C., BICCI, A., DEI, D., FRATINI, M. & PIERACCINI, M. Remote Survey of the Leaning Tower
of Pisa by Interferometric Sensing. Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, IEEE, 7, 185-189.
– BAI, J., CHAN, D. & MORGENSTERN, N. (2008a) NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF TIME-DEPENDENT
BEHAVIOUR FOR THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA. Soil and foundation, 48, 207-220.
– BAI, J., MORGENSTERN, N. & CHAN, D. (2008b) THREE-DIMENSIONAL CREEP ANALYSES OF
THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA. Soil and foundation, 48, 195-205.
– BAJ, E. & BOZZOLATO, G. (1990) Numerical photogrammetry for the survey of the leaning tower of
Pisa. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 44, 325-342.
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– CAMUFFO, D., STURARO, G. & VALENTINO, A. (1999) Urban Climatology Applied to the
Deterioration of the Pisa Leaning Tower, Italy. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 63, 223-231.
– CARPENTER, D. (2007) THE LEANING TOWER OF œPISA: PUBLIC IGNORANCE, ISSUE
PUBLICS, AND STATE AUTONOMY: REPLY TO DECANIO. Critical Review: A Journal of Politics
and Society, 19, 157 - 164.
– ZHOU, Z., OGOT, M. & SCHWARTZ, L. (2001) A finite element analysis of the effects of an
increasing angle on the tower of Pisa. Finite Elements in Analysis and Design, 37, 901-911.