Ferdinand Arnodin
Encyclopedia
Ferdinand Joseph Arnodin (October 9, 1845 – April 24, 1924) was a French engineer
and industrialist born in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon
, Rhône and deceased in Châteauneuf-sur-Loire in Loiret
. Specialising in cableway transporters, he is regarded as the inventor of the transporter bridge
, having been the first to patent the idea in 1887. However, the first such bridge was in fact designed by Alberto Palacio
, with Arnodin's help.
Nine of the eighteen known examples may be attributed to him. Three of them still exist. They use the technology of both suspension bridge
s and cable-stayed bridge
s. Arnodin built a great number of second generation suspension bridge
s at the turn of the 20th century and he also restored and consolidated a number of old first generation suspension bridges (before 1860): the aprons were reinforced and the old wire cables replaced by spirally-wound double torsion steel wire ropes, often with addition of a cable-stayed bridge (known structural modification under the name of “Système Arnodin”). His factory (for the production of prefabricated metal sub-structures) was established in Châteauneuf-sur-Loire. Vestiges of this factory were still visible a few years ago, and the chimney could still be seen, half ruined, between the Loire and railway.
The Loire Fleet Museum, at Châteauneuf-sur-Loire, shows memories of these workshops: an old model of the Nantes transporter bridge, a section of steel wire rope manufactured by Arnodin and photographs.
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and industrialist born in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon
Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon
Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.It is a suburb of the city of Lyon, being located to the west of the city. It is thus a component of the metropolitan Urban Community of Lyon....
, Rhône and deceased in Châteauneuf-sur-Loire in Loiret
Loiret
Loiret is a department in north-central FranceThe department is named after the river Loiret, a tributary of the Loire. The Loiret is located wholly within the department.- History :...
. Specialising in cableway transporters, he is regarded as the inventor of the transporter bridge
Transporter bridge
A transporter bridge is a type of movable bridge that carries a segment of roadway across a river. The gondola is slung from a tall span by wires or a metal frame. The design has been used to cross navigable rivers or other bodies of water, where there is a requirement for ship traffic to be...
, having been the first to patent the idea in 1887. However, the first such bridge was in fact designed by Alberto Palacio
Alberto Palacio
Alberto de Palacio y Elissague was a Spanish engineer and architect born in Sare and grown up in Bilbao....
, with Arnodin's help.
Nine of the eighteen known examples may be attributed to him. Three of them still exist. They use the technology of both suspension bridge
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
s and cable-stayed bridge
Cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
s. Arnodin built a great number of second generation suspension bridge
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
s at the turn of the 20th century and he also restored and consolidated a number of old first generation suspension bridges (before 1860): the aprons were reinforced and the old wire cables replaced by spirally-wound double torsion steel wire ropes, often with addition of a cable-stayed bridge (known structural modification under the name of “Système Arnodin”). His factory (for the production of prefabricated metal sub-structures) was established in Châteauneuf-sur-Loire. Vestiges of this factory were still visible a few years ago, and the chimney could still be seen, half ruined, between the Loire and railway.
The Loire Fleet Museum, at Châteauneuf-sur-Loire, shows memories of these workshops: an old model of the Nantes transporter bridge, a section of steel wire rope manufactured by Arnodin and photographs.
Major works
- Bilbao Puente ColgantePuente ColganteThe Vizcaya Bridge , is a transporter bridge that links the towns of Portugalete and Las Arenas in the Biscay province of Spain, crossing the mouth of the Nervion River....
, 1893, still in use - Bizerta/Brest Transporter Bridge, 1898
- Rouen Transporter Bridge, 1898
- Rochefort-Matrou Transporter Bridge, 1900, still in use
- Nantes Transporter Bridge, 1903
- Marseilles Transporter Bridge, 1905
- Newport Transporter BridgeNewport Transporter BridgeThe Newport Transporter Bridge is a transporter bridge that crosses the River Usk in Newport, South Wales. It is a Grade I listed structure. Designed by French engineer Ferdinand Arnodin, it was built in 1906 and opened by Godfrey Charles Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar on 12 September 1906...
, 1906, still in use - Bordeaux Transporter Bridge, never finished
- Sidi M'Cid Suspension Bridge, Constantine, AlgeriaConstantine, AlgeriaConstantine is the capital of Constantine Province in north-eastern Algeria. It was the capital of the same-named French département until 1962. Slightly inland, it is about 80 kilometres from the Mediterranean coast, on the banks of Rhumel river...
, 1908, 160 m span