Thursday, February 2, 2017

World's first 3D printed bridge

World's first 3D printed bridge is unveiled in Madrid - and experts say the technology could be the future of construction

This is the first time that 3D printing has been used in construction
The 12-metre-long bridge is printed on micro-refined concrete D printing reduces waste as material is deposited in a more controlled way

From a prosthetic arm to a Michelin-star meal, 3D printing has already been used to create a range of weird and wonderful objects.

And the latest construction made using the technology takes things to a whole new level.

Researchers have created the world's first 3D-printed bridge, which they say could be the future for construction.

The Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia has designed the first 3D printed bridge in the world

WHAT IS 3D PRINTING?

3D printing is a way of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file.

The creation of 3D objects is achieved by laying down successive layers of material until the object is created.

Each of the layers is a very thinly sliced horizontal cross-section of the final object.

First you make a virtual design of the object you want to create.

The virtual design is on a computer file which can be created by using a 3D modeling application.

A 3D scanner can then make a 3D digital copy of the object. The extraordinary creation, which resides in a park in Madrid, is 12 metres long and 1.75 metres wide.

It is printed on micro-refined concrete.

The Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) was in charge of the architectural design of the bridge.

Ms Areti Markopoulou, who led the team, told MailOnline: 'In traditional architecture there is a lot of waste material which you cannot remove, however, with 3D printing you can control where the material is deposited.

'Usually we are limited to simple geometries in construction because it is difficult and expensive to create complex moulds.

'With this bridge we were able to experiment with complex forms that appear in nature and we made a design that would have been very difficult by conventional means.'

The researchers have been trying to 3D print structures for 15 years.

Ms Markopoulou said: 'It is a really important development in architectural innovation and experimentation.'

They are hoping this bridge will open up more opportunities for using 3D printing in civil engineering.

'Prefabrication minimises costs, it is quicker and more sustainable', Ms Markopoulou said.

The bridge was inaugurated on 14 December in the urban park of Castilla-La Mancha in Alcobendas, Madrid.

During construction, waste was reduced by recycling of raw materials during manufacture.

The bridge, which is in a park just outside of Madrid, is 12 metres long and 1.75 metres wide. It is printed on micro-refined concrete

The bridge is made up of eight different parts, each made of concrete powder micro-reinforced with thermoplastic polypropylene.

Ms Markopoulou said: 'This is an evolutionary technique which involves depositing layers of material one sheet on another.

'Instead of using ink like a normal printer, we are depositing construction material.

'Bridges are often used in to practice architectural principles and so it was an important exercise for experimentation.'

The IAAC worked with architects, mechanical and structural engineers, and municipal representatives to bring the design to life.

The researchers used an evolutionary technique which involves depositing layers of material one sheet on another. Pictured from left to right are Alexandre Dubor, Areti Markopoulou and Rodrigo Aguirre

The bridge is made up of eight different parts, each made of concrete powder micro-reinforced with thermoplastic polypropylene

The construction relied on a massive 3D printer - the first of its kind - which can bind sand to solid rock.

'The computational design also allows to maximize the structural performance, being able to dispose the material only where it is needed, with total freedom of forms', a representative from the IAAC said.

The structure maintains porosity 'thanks to the application of generative algorithms and challenging the traditional techniques of construction,' the representative said.

The bridge is in the urban park of Castilla-La Mancha in Alcobendas in the south of Madrid

Saturday, January 28, 2017

A HIGH SPEED RAIL COAST TO COAST BY THE LEE WANTA FUNDS

Lee Wanta personally contacted President Donald Trump’s transition team with his standing offer to build a high tech coast-to-coast high speed state-of-the-art maglev railroad that would provide an immediate 2 million good paying American job opportunities.

Many VT readers know Ambassador Wanta’s colorful past serving as President Reagan’s personal secret agent under the Totten Doctrine, which was his part in bringing the Soviet Union down under Operation Stillpoint while helping the Russian people transition to their new non-tyrannical Russian Federation.

During Operation Stillpoint, Lee Wanta engaged in massive currency speculation and ended up making a personal profit of 27.5 Trillion dollars, which has now mushroomed into over 33 Trillion USD

— an astounding fortune.

And many VT readers know that the Bush Crime Cabal attempted to assassinate President Reagan and then threw Lee Wanta in prison in Switzerland illegally, later transporting him back to place him in an American prison, also illegally on fake, trumped-up charges.

As many VT readers know this was also done to CIA Asset Susan Lindauer, and also to Scott Bennett, the top Army Psyops expert, who worked at the highest levels of the USG in secret capacities — both were illegally jailed over phony charges, which itself is a criminal abuse of process.

According to Lee Wanta, who is now living under special federal protection to insure his survival from ongoing threats, his money has been placed in trust and was promised to be released to him last year. He is still waiting.

He told me that his money was placed in Argo Trust, and it turns out the trustees are Hayden, Bush and Cheney. All that has to be paid is normal income taxes on it, which Lee Wanta says he is willing to do.

Lee Wanta personally contacted the Trump transition team and shared all necessary documents to show he is still ready to start construction anytime, and the funds are there to access if President Trump decides to do so.

It would seem that, if President Trump is as serious about creating new American jobs and a booming American economy as he claims, he would quickly respond to Lee Wanta’s offer and move to get this high speed cross-country railroad going.

Most other modern nations have them; certainly America should too, and the economic benefits would be astounding. Plus all the needed finds are there awaiting access by Presidential order.

This is an opportunity that should not be passed up by President Trump.

Thursday, January 5, 2017

The most expensive hole in the world: Russian diamond mine valued at £13 BILLION is so vast helicopters are banned from flying over it in case they are SUCKED into it

Dubbed 'Diamond City', Mir mine in eastern Siberia is 1,722-feet-deep and has a diameter of nearly a mile
The crater is so huge that it creates a vortex said to to be strong enough to pull helicopters downwards
Its riches were so vast it helped transform the USSR from an impoverished nation into a world superpower

With an expected value of £13billion, this could be the most expensive hole in the world.

Dubbed 'Diamond City', Mir mine in eastern Siberia is so huge it creates a vortex potentially strong enough to suck helicopters into its depths.

At 1,722-feet-deep and with a diameter of nearly one mile, the crater makes it look like the nearby town of Mirny has been struck by a meteorite.

Scroll down for video

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With an expected value of £13billion, Mir mine in eastern Siberia could be the most expensive hole in the world

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Dubbed 'Diamond City' it is so huge it creates a vortex potentially strong enough to suck helicopters into its depths

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At 1,722-feet-deep and with a diameter of nearly one mile, the crater makes it look like the nearby town of Mirny has been struck by a meteorite

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Its riches were so vast it helped transform the USSR from a war torn and impoverished nation into a post-WW2 global superpower

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Although the open cast mine ceased operation in 2004, it was replaced with a series of underground tunnels which produced more than six million carats of rough diamonds in 2014

Its riches were so vast it helped transform the USSR from a war torn and impoverished nation into a post-WW2 global superpower.

Although the open cast mine ceased operation in 2004, it was replaced with a series of underground tunnels which produced more than six million carats of rough diamonds in 2014.

Mir mine's £13billion worth is based on adding the total value of the diamonds it has already produced to the remaining reserves.Share

The air space above the pit, located 5,000 miles east of Moscow, is closed after alleged incidents of helicopters being sucked downwards. Thankfully, no crashes have been reported.

It is owned by Russian company Alrosa, which produces about a quarter of the world's diamond output.

In 2010, a construction company called AB Elise announced plans to build a gigantic domed city in the disused mine.

The firm said it would use solar energy to power homes for 100,000 people.

Presumably the underground mine operation would have to stop before this dream could become a reality.

At its peak, Mir mine produced on average two million carats of rough diamonds a year, worth at least £20million, and with nearby mines was responsible for 23 per cent of the world's rough diamonds.

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The area in Siberia where the mine is based is home to some of the harshest weather conditions in the world. Winter can last up to seven months and temperatures can often drop as low as -40 degrees Celsius

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Mir mine's £13billion worth is based on adding the total value of the diamonds it has already produced to the remaining reserves

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The air space above the pit, located 5,000 miles east of Moscow, is closed after alleged incidents of helicopters being sucked downwards. Thankfully, so far no crashes have been reported

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Mir mine is owned by Russian company Alrosa, which produces about a quarter of the world's diamond output

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A worker mends a mining machine. The rapid development of the first diamond pit in the Soviet Union worried the South African De Beers company, who until that point had been distributing most of the world's diamonds

The largest ones were the size of golf balls, including the 130.85 carat Olonkho diamond, worth about £250,000.

The diamond deposits were discovered by three geologists - Ekaterina Elagina, Uri Khabardin and Viktor Avdeenko.

When the news was relayed back to Moscow, digging began.

Jet engines were used to blast holes in the permafrost and dynamite was used to excavate the surface rock and loosen the kimberlite ore.

The three geologists were awarded Russia's highest award, the Lenin Prize for their efforts.

After Russia was left devastated by WW2, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin used the money made from Mir mine to help rebuild the country and turn Russia into a global superpower to rival the USA.

This made mining difficult and after jet engines failed to sufficiently melt the perma frost dynamite was also used.

The rapid development of the first diamond mine in the Soviet Union worried the South African De Beers company, who until that point had been distributing most of the world's diamonds.

After being granted permission to visit Mir mine and learn its secrets the company's executive Sir Philip Oppenheimer and chief geologist Barry Hawthorne were deliberately delayed for so long upon their arrival in Moscow that by the time they arrived at the mine their visas were due to expire.

This meant the pair managed to view the site for just twenty minutes.

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After Russia was left devastated by WW2, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin used the money made from this huge industrial diamond mine to help rebuild the country and turn Russia into a global superpower to rival the USA