Original name
Lorentzsluizen [Lorentz discharge sluices]
Original use
Infrastructure / Enclosure Dam
Current use
Infrastructure / Enclosure Dam
Architects
Dirk Roosenburg
Concrete by reinforcement
Concrete is a relatively brittle material that is strong in compression but less so in tension.
To increase its overall strength, steel rods, wires, mesh or cables may be embedded in concrete before it sets. This reinforcement, often known as rebar, resists tensile forces. By forming a strong bond, the two materials are able to resist a variety of applied forces, effectively acting as a single structural element .
Construction method
In this case, the concrete can be made by mixing the components directly on site, or it may be transported from a production plant in concrete-mixer trucks.
This method has the disadvantage of leaving the concrete exposed to the elements while it is setting. Whereas, with other methods, the environmental conditions can be controlled during setting, providing greater control over the outcome, with cast-in-place concrete a series of tests and protocols are necessary to verify its final strength.
Architectural concrete
- textured walls
- wooden formwork finish
- stamped concrete
- exposed aggregate concrete, colored concrete, etc.
Structural types
Trussed beams are the cheapest solution for the execution of large spans, in other words, when there are large distances between vertical supports. In reality, this type of beam is a kind of lattice, made up of a series of shorter braces (posts and struts).
Trussed beams are usually made of steel or wood, since some of the elements of the structure will be subject to compression and others to traction. As such, it is unusual for structures of this type to be built only with concrete. Using a combination of concrete for compression and steel to absorb traction results in better structural performance.
State of Conservation
Description
The Netherlands depends on hydraulic infrastructures for its survival: the Afsluitdijk is an essential part of this complex hydraulic system, since it segregates part of the waters of the Wadden Sea. This is essential to the sustainability of the country, since it ensures a balance between saltwater and fresh water that can be used in agriculture, while moderating the effects of tides in cities like Amsterdam and inland areas, some of which sit below sea level.
The Wadden Sea occupies a strip along the coast of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark sandwiched between the continent and a series of islands parallel to the coast, which separate it from the open waters of the North Sea. The construction of the dike infrastructure was approached as a collective national enterprise, and it was finished in a much shorter span of time than was expected, from 1927 to 1932. The project consisted in creating a colossal dike – 32 km long by 90 m wide that closes off a part of the Wadden Sea where it juts inland. The country’s capital is located on its shores, along with other large cities. The saltwater of the interior section is diluted by the contribution of fresh continental waters, generating a delicate balance. Moreover, the construction of the dike also made possible to build a highway on the part above ground, with is central to overland communication with Europe’s northern coast.
Both ends of this infrastructure, where it joins up with the continent, are the points where the highest complexity is concentrated. Crossings for both ships and land vehicles must be ensured, which involves the management of points where the water from both sides of the dike mixes together. There, a series of monumental concrete towers, situated at regular intervals, give the dike its most characteristic image, in addition to providing elevated observation points.
The area was declared World Heritage, not only because of the importance of this infrastructure, but also because it is largely responsible for the existence of the Netherlands as we know it.
Netherlands
A7 Motorway (bridge), Den Oever
Friesland 1779 GP Zurich
Commission
1927
Completion
1932