2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25
The word "buttress" has several meanings and is used in various areas. In architecture and construction, this is a protruding structure; in human anatomy, the term “buttresses of the skull” is found. Moreover, in both cases, this word carries approximately the same meaning.
Buttress in architecture and construction
Even in the Middle Ages, the buttress of the wall gained popularity, it served as an integral element of the Romanesque style in architecture. These structures were built around the building, in the form of abutments, adjacent to the walls from the front side and placed at a certain distance from each other, opposite those places where the girth arches of the vaults abut against the wall.
Buttress is a vertical structure that serves as a support from the front side of the building and takes on the efforts of the lateral thrust. The cross section of such a device becomes larger as it approaches the base stepwise or in a triangle. When relatively small loads occur, its cross section can be the same, approaching a pilaster in appearance.
There are buttresses:
- stepped;
- vertical;
- lightweight;
- corner.
The Romanesque direction in the construction of buildings gravitated towards the construction of upward-looking buildings, because the architects of that time decided that a stepped structure would be appropriate and most reliable here. The vertical buttress occupied less street space in cities. It was very convenient to use in settlements where there was not enough space for buildings. Lightweight buttress is a new type of construction, some stability is restored to it by installing a stone turret in the upper part. The last Gothic period was characterized by the erection of corner buttresses, which were placed at an angle of 45° to the walls.
Buttresses in Gothic architecture
The frame system in Gothic architecture includes a set of special constructive building techniques, which made it possible to redistribute the loads of the building and make ceilings and walls several times lighter. Thanks to this architectural innovation of the Middle Ages, it was possible to increase the height and area of \u200b\u200bthe structures several times. The buttress served as the main component in Gothic architecture. This is a transverse wall made of stone, along with which they erected a flying buttress - an outer semi-arch, ribs - a protruding rib. All of them were built with a specific purpose, they played a specific role in the construction.
Buttress is a powerful pillar, a vertical erected structure that takes on part of the wall loads, counteracts the expansion of the vaults. During the Middle Ages, they did not lean him againstwall of the room, and carried outside, for some distance, attached to the building with the help of thrown arches-flying buttresses. This was enough to effectively redirect the loads on the support columns away from the wall. The structures of the buttresses themselves were made vertical, continuously inclined and stepped.
Main purpose
The principle of these building elements in Gothic architecture looks like this: the vault does not give all its loads to the walls, and the pressure of the cross vault directs ribs and arches to pillars (columns), buttresses and flying buttresses take on lateral thrust. Thanks to this joint work of the components, it was possible to build buildings with a large number of windows, stained glass art and sculpture became popular.
Furthermore, Gothic architecture began to incorporate a unique, upward-sloping vault shape, which in turn made less lateral thrust, allowing most of the pressure to be redirected to the piers. The arches, resembling arrows, became pointed, elongated. And they served as objects for the embodiment of the main idea of Gothic - the aspiration of temples upward. Quite often, pinnacles were placed in the place where the flying buttresses rested on the buttress.
Using these designs today
It makes sense to use a wall buttress for low buildings, in the event that the external elements are tilted (provided that there is a place for installing these elements from the front and they do not harm the architecture). The most common problem in the construction of such structures is their construction on shallowfoundations, because after frosty heaving of the soil, the buttresses have a risk of acquiring dangerous rolls. There is also another weakness in the design of these elements - it is necessary to strengthen the basement walls.
Where else are buttresses found
In anatomy and medicine, this term is also used, and it carries a certain meaning. For example, the buttresses of the skull are functional formations that take on the main load when chewing, and also soften the blows resulting from the closing of the teeth. In addition, they make shocks and shocks weaker during the movement of the entire human body (when walking, jumping, running). The buttresses of the jaws are thickenings and play a special role in the structure of the skull.
