Brooklyn Bridge DRAFT 1

   In 1996, Elizabeth Mann wrote a book entitled “The Brooklyn Bridge” with the purpose for the reader to understand the history behind the Brooklyn Bridge and also have the reader focus on the struggles of building the iconic bridge. John Roebling was an engineer who focused on building bridges and wanted to create a bridge over the east river. He focused on the design of the bridge, starting with the foundations. When he finished designing the bridge, a boat slammed into the pier injuring John badly, and he passed away a month later. His son (Washington A. Roebling) carried on his work by working on the foundations using caissons, but a fire struck, and the workers and himself got caisson disease. Some workers finished the first foundation, but the caisson disease was causing other workers to quit the project. Washington used the sand and gravel from the soil to help with the caisson. This disease made Washington feel worse, having him stay home for the rest of the project, so his wife (Emily Roebling) took over the project. It didn’t help her knowing that she wasn’t an engineer, but she learned a lot about suspension bridges which gave her respect from the workers. After finishing the rest of the bridge parts, the bridge was complete. Everyone was amazed at what John, Washington, Emily, and the workers did. Caissons are the most important part of bridge construction projects due to the focus on stability. In this essay, it is significant to examine the functions of caissons, the different types of caissons, and the pros of caissons.

   Caisson foundations are water retaining structures used for the construction of bridges, also used as anchors. They’re used for other structures that require foundations under rivers. When using caissons for any construction project they are used for providing stability. “The foundation system of and the soils beneath the building prevent the complex from moving vertically. When a load is placed on soil, most soils settle. This creates problems when the building settles but the utilities do not” (Mishra, 2017). This website gives the reader an understanding of how caissons are used when they are a wedge in soil. When using caissons as a foundation the most important parts are how far deep you wedge the caissons in the soil or water, and all the caissons have to match at the same weight and length, if they don’t, then that could lead to an unleveled bridge/building. Mann writes, “To do this, he used enormous wooden boxes called caissons. The caissons sat on the river bottom and protected the workers inside them as they dug” (The Brooklyn Bridge pg.574). Mann brings in a good example of what caisson can be used for other than as foundations. The wooden caissons used for the Brooklyn Bridge were functioned to protect the workers from any problems that applied to the project. When using caissons, they can apply in many different variations of construction, without a strong foundation the bridge/building will instability causing the bridge/building to fall apart.   

  There is more than one type of caisson foundation which is constructed of concrete, steel, or wood, but they also have different names that are used depending on the type of bridge design and the material used as well. “Monolithic Caissons are larger than the other types of caissons they are constructed in the quay walls (earth retaining structure used for dock floating transferred goods.) where resistance to impact from the ship is needed” (4 types of Caissons and Their Pros and Cons, n.d.). The constructor.org clearly explains that there is more than one way to use caissons. These caissons are used for ships to send in transferred goods, provide access to deep shafts, and can be used as a waterproof core wall of structuring dams as well. However, civilengineeringbible.com doesn’t only talk about Monoliths for example, “Pneumatic Caissons are bottomless boxes sealed at the top. These boxes are filled with pressurized air. They are placed in the water like an inverted glass, thus pushing the water and mud out of the box” (4 types of Caissons and Their Pros and Cons, n.d.). These caissons are mainly used for construction in water and wet areas. Caissons brought engineering to a new level not only used for bridges, but for different construction projects to have society look at civil engineering as an inspiration for construction.

  The workers are placed inside of the caisson with a pressurized air supply tube in which the pressured air is expelled into the workspace, also two personnel access tube is self-explanatory, the workers use those tubes to go in and out of the workspace, there are two muck tubes for the mud and other substance to pour in the workspace so the caisson can simply slide through the soil, and then there are ballast weights to keep the caissons at balance. This makes caissons very special and significant for construction projects. They are the start of the building blocks for civil engineering projects.

   When dealing with construction, not only does one start with the outline, but when one finishes the outline, it must start at the base. If one starts at the midway point, it will throw the whole project off balance, which is why caissons brought the whole new thinking to civil engineering. “Caissons are considered to be more economical since they can be inserted at any place and is strong enough to withstand loads applied to any structure” (2022). These types of foundations can increase the usage of the economy, making construction and the economy flow easily. “They can be easily transferred to different site conditions” (2022). Constructionor.com gives the positive side of making transportation of caissons simple, so there isn’t any conflict in transferring caissons or any other foundations. Using caissons brings a positive effect outside and inside construction sites such as the economy (more money for the construction companies).

   Caissons have evolved. Through the structures of foundations, the many types of caissons, and the positive effect it brings to the world of civil engineering. At the start of the Brooklyn Bridge, the path of evolving caissons to a modern state of structuring foundations. Engineers took the idea of caissons and brought a whole new idea to civil engineering.

References

• Mishra, G. (2017, September 13). Caisson (Pier) Foundation – Types, Construction and Advantages. The Constructor.

Caisson Foundation -Types, Construction and Advantages of Caisson (theconstructor.org)

• 4 Types of Caissons and their Pros and Cons. (n.d.). CivilEngineeringBible.com. 

4 Types of Caissons and their Pros and Cons – CivilEngineeringBible.com

• (2022, July 2). Caisson Foundation. Constructionor.Com.

Caisson Foundation: Types, Advantages and Disadvantages (constructionor.com)

Brooklyn Bridge DRAFT 2

In 1996, Elizabeth Mann wrote a book entitled “The Brooklyn Bridge” with the purpose for the reader to understand the history behind the Brooklyn Bridge and also have the reader focus on the struggles of building the iconic bridge. John Roebling was an engineer who focused on building bridges and wanted to create a bridge over the east river. He focused on the design of the bridge, starting with the foundations. When he finished designing the bridge, a boat slammed into the pier injuring John badly, and he passed away a month later. His son (Washington A. Roebling) carried on his work by working on the foundations using caissons, but a fire struck, and the workers and himself got caisson disease. Some workers finished the first foundation, but the caisson disease was causing other workers to quit the project. Washington used the sand and gravel from the soil to help with the caisson. This disease made Washington feel worse, having him stay home for the rest of the project, so his wife (Emily Roebling) took over the project. It didn’t help her knowing that she wasn’t an engineer, but she learned a lot about suspension bridges which gave her respect from the workers. After finishing the rest of the bridge parts, the bridge was complete. Everyone was amazed at what John, Washington, Emily, and the workers did.

  Caissons are the most important part of bridge construction projects due to the focus on stability. In this essay, it is significant to examine the functions of caissons, the different types of caissons, and the pros of caissons.

   Caisson foundations are water retaining structures used for the construction of bridges, also used as anchors. They’re used for other structures that require foundations under rivers. When using caissons for any construction project they are used for providing stability. “The foundation system of and the soils beneath the building prevent the complex from moving vertically. When a load is placed on soil, most soils settle. This creates problems when the building settles but the utilities do not” (Mishra, 2017). This website gives the reader an understanding of how caissons are used when they are a wedge in soil. When using caissons as a foundation the most important parts are how far deep you wedge the caissons in the soil or water, and all the caissons have to match at the same weight and length, if they don’t, then that could lead to an unleveled bridge/building. Mann writes, “To do this, he used enormous wooden boxes called caissons. The caissons sat on the river bottom and protected the workers inside them as they dug” (The Brooklyn Bridge pg.574). Mann brings in a good example of what caisson can be used for other than as foundations. The wooden caissons used for the Brooklyn Bridge were functioned to protect the workers from any problems that applied to the project. When using caissons, they can apply in many different variations of construction, without a strong foundation the bridge/building will instability causing the bridge/building to fall apart.   

  There is more than one type of caisson foundation which is constructed of concrete, steel, or wood, but they also have different names that are used depending on the type of bridge design and the material used as well. “Monolithic Caissons are larger than the other types of caissons they are constructed in the quay walls (earth retaining structure used for dock floating transferred goods.) where resistance to impact from the ship is needed” (4 types of Caissons and Their Pros and Cons, n.d.). The constructor.org clearly explains that there is more than one way to use caissons. These caissons are used for ships to send in transferred goods, provide access to deep shafts, and can be used as a waterproof core wall of structuring dams as well. However, civilengineeringbible.com doesn’t only talk about Monoliths for example, “Pneumatic Caissons are bottomless boxes sealed at the top. These boxes are filled with pressurized air. They are placed in the water like an inverted glass, thus pushing the water and mud out of the box” (4 types of Caissons and Their Pros and Cons, n.d.). These caissons are mainly used for construction in water and wet areas. Caissons brought engineering to a new level not only used for bridges, but for different construction projects to have society look at civil engineering as an inspiration for construction.

  The workers are placed inside of the caisson with a pressurized air supply tube in which the pressured air is expelled into the workspace, also two personnel access tube is self-explanatory, the workers use those tubes to go in and out of the workspace, there are two muck tubes for the mud and other substance to pour in the workspace so the caisson can simply slide through the soil, and then there are ballast weights to keep the caissons at balance. This makes caissons very special and significant for construction projects. They are the start of the building blocks for civil engineering projects.

   When dealing with construction, not only does one start with the outline, but when one finishes the outline, it must start at the base. If one starts at the midway point, it will throw the whole project off balance, which is why caissons brought the whole new thinking to civil engineering. “Caissons are considered to be more economical since they can be inserted at any place and is strong enough to withstand loads applied to any structure” (2022). These types of foundations can increase the usage of the economy, making construction and the economy flow easily. “They can be easily transferred to different site conditions” (2022). Constructionor.com gives the positive side of making transportation of caissons simple, so there isn’t any conflict in transferring caissons or any other foundations. Using caissons brings a positive effect outside and inside construction sites such as the economy (more money for the construction companies).

   Caissons have evolved. Through the structures of foundations, the many types of caissons, and the positive effect it brings to the world of civil engineering. At the start of the Brooklyn Bridge, the path of evolving caissons to a modern state of structuring foundations. Engineers took the idea of caissons and brought a whole new idea to civil engineering.

References

• Mishra, G. (2017, September 13). Caisson (Pier) Foundation – Types, Construction and Advantages. The Constructor.

Caisson Foundation -Types, Construction and Advantages of Caisson (theconstructor.org)

• 4 Types of Caissons and their Pros and Cons. (n.d.). CivilEngineeringBible.com. 

4 Types of Caissons and their Pros and Cons – CivilEngineeringBible.com

• (2022, July 2). Caisson Foundation. Constructionor.Com.

Caisson Foundation: Types, Advantages and Disadvantages (constructionor.com)