Articles
Authors: Koen Verswijver , R. De Meyer , Rudi Denys , E. De Kooning , J. Belis
The Vierendeel is a frame with rigid joints patented in 1896 by Belgian engineer ArthurVierendeel (1852-1940). His invention came about after he noticed that experiments and calculationmethods on iron and steel frameworks didn‟t agree, making his invention a response in the then discussionon secondary stresses. After designing a church tower and testing a full-scale bridge model during the 1897Brussels World Fair, many bridges „système Vierendeel‟ were erected the following decades in hishomeland, as well as a few dozens around the globe. At times the discussion on the Vierendeel got heatedin trade journals and amongst people, mainly due to a lack of „visual‟ safety and theoretical uncertaintiesconcerning calculation, safety factors and welding techniques. Nowadays the Vierendeel principle is stilltopical and many (structural) designers apply his formal ideas. This led to a broader meaning of the wordVierendeel varying from aesthetic to strictly structural.
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How to Cite: Verswijver, K. , De Meyer, R. , Denys, R. , De Kooning, E. & Belis, J. (2010) “Development of the Vierendeel: calculation, aesthetics, welding, concrete”, International Journal of Sustainable Construction and Design. 1(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/scad.v1i1.20426