Fritz Leonhardt
Encyclopedia
Fritz Leonhardt was a German structural engineer
who made major contributions to 20th century bridge engineering, especially in the development of cable-stayed bridge
s. His book Bridges: Aesthetics and Design is well known throughout the bridge engineering community.
in 1909, Leonhardt studied at Stuttgart University and Purdue University
. In 1934 he joined the German Highway Administration, working with Paul Bonatz
amongst others. He was appointed at the remarkably young age of 28 as the Chief Engineer for the Cologne-Rodenkirchen Bridge
.
In 1954 he formed the consulting firm Leonhardt und Andrä, and from 1958 to 1974 taught the design of reinforced concrete
and prestressed concrete
at Stuttgart University. He was President of the University from 1967 to 1969.
He received Honorary Doctorates from six universities, honorary membership of several important engineering universities, and won a number of prizes including the Werner-von-Siemens-Ring, the Honorary Medal Emil Mörsch, the Freyssinet Medal of the FIP, and the Gold Medal of the Institution of Structural Engineers
.
Throughout his career, Leonhardt was as dedicated to research as to design, and his major contributions to bridge engineering technology included:
His major structures include the Cologne-Rodenkirchen Bridge
, Stuttgart Television Tower, and various cable-stayed bridges in Düsseldorf
.
He worked on the design of several cable-stayed bridges, including the Pasco-Kennewick bridge
(1978) in the USA, and the Helgeland Bridge
(1981) in Norway.
. Subsequent winners have included Jörg Schlaich (2002), René Walter (2005), and William F. Baker (engineer)
(2009).
Structural engineer
Structural engineers analyze, design, plan, and research structural components and structural systems to achieve design goals and ensure the safety and comfort of users or occupants...
who made major contributions to 20th century bridge engineering, especially in the development of 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. His book Bridges: Aesthetics and Design is well known throughout the bridge engineering community.
Biography
Born in StuttgartStuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
in 1909, Leonhardt studied at Stuttgart University and Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
. In 1934 he joined the German Highway Administration, working with Paul Bonatz
Paul Bonatz
Paul Bonatz was a German architect, member of the Stuttgart School and professor at the technical university in that city during part of World War II and from 1954 until his death....
amongst others. He was appointed at the remarkably young age of 28 as the Chief Engineer for the Cologne-Rodenkirchen Bridge
Cologne Rodenkirchen Bridge
The Cologne Rodenkirchen Bridge is a suspension bridge over the Rhine located in Cologne, Germany. Completed in 1954, it has a main span of 378 metres. It was named after the Cologne district of Rodenkirchen.-Planning and construction:...
.
In 1954 he formed the consulting firm Leonhardt und Andrä, and from 1958 to 1974 taught the design of reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
and prestressed concrete
Prestressed concrete
Prestressed concrete is a method for overcoming concrete's natural weakness in tension. It can be used to produce beams, floors or bridges with a longer span than is practical with ordinary reinforced concrete...
at Stuttgart University. He was President of the University from 1967 to 1969.
He received Honorary Doctorates from six universities, honorary membership of several important engineering universities, and won a number of prizes including the Werner-von-Siemens-Ring, the Honorary Medal Emil Mörsch, the Freyssinet Medal of the FIP, and the Gold Medal of the Institution of Structural Engineers
Institution of Structural Engineers
The Institution of Structural Engineers is a professional body for structural engineering based in the United Kingdom. It has 27,000 members in 105 countries. The Institution provides professional accreditation for structural engineers...
.
Throughout his career, Leonhardt was as dedicated to research as to design, and his major contributions to bridge engineering technology included:
- development of a launching system for prestressed concretePrestressed concretePrestressed concrete is a method for overcoming concrete's natural weakness in tension. It can be used to produce beams, floors or bridges with a longer span than is practical with ordinary reinforced concrete...
bridges, first used in his 1963 bridge over the Caroní RiverCaroní RiverThe Caroni River is the second most important river of Venezuela, the second in flow, and one of the longest, 952 km from the Tepui Kuquenan, where she originates with the same name Kuquenan, up to its confluence with the River Orinoco to which basin she belongs...
in Ciudad GuayanaCiudad GuayanaCiudad Guayana is a city in Bolívar State, Venezuela. It lies south of the Orinoco, where the river is joined by the Caroní River. The city, officially founded in 1961, is actually composed of the old town of San Félix at the east and the new town of Puerto Ordaz at the west, which lie either...
, Venezuela - the 'Hi-Am' anchor for cable stays, in collaboration with the Swiss firm B.B.R.V.
- anchorages in prestressed concrete
- experiments during the 1930s on steel orthotropic deckOrthotropic deckAn orthotropic bridge or orthotropic deck is one whose deck typically comprises a structural steel deck plate stiffened either longitudinally or transversely, or in both directions. This allows the deck both to directly bear vehicular loads and to contribute to the bridge structure's overall...
s.
Major works
Cologne Rodenkirchen Bridge
The Cologne Rodenkirchen Bridge is a suspension bridge over the Rhine located in Cologne, Germany. Completed in 1954, it has a main span of 378 metres. It was named after the Cologne district of Rodenkirchen.-Planning and construction:...
, Stuttgart Television Tower, and various cable-stayed bridges in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
.
He worked on the design of several cable-stayed bridges, including the Pasco-Kennewick bridge
Cable Bridge
The Cable Bridge, officially called the Ed Hendler Bridge and sometimes called the Intercity Bridge, spans the Columbia River between Pasco and Kennewick in southeastern Washington as State Route 397...
(1978) in the USA, and the Helgeland Bridge
Helgeland Bridge
Helgeland Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge that crosses Leirfjorden between the mainland and Alsten in Nordland county in Norway. It connects the town of Sandnessjøen to the mainland. The bridge is 1065 metres long, The main span is 425 metres, and the maximum clearance to the sea is 45 metres. The...
(1981) in Norway.
Fritz Leonhardt Prize
This prize was established in 1999 on the 90th anniversary of Leonhardt's birth, to recognise outstanding achievements in structural engineering. The first prize was awarded to Michel VirlogeuxMichel Virlogeux
Dr. Michel Virlogeux is a French structural engineer and bridge specialist.-Career:Michel Virlogeux graduated from the École Polytechnique in 1967 and from the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in 1970...
. Subsequent winners have included Jörg Schlaich (2002), René Walter (2005), and William F. Baker (engineer)
William F. Baker (engineer)
William Frazier Baker, also known as Bill Baker, is an American structural engineer known for engineering the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building/manmade structure....
(2009).