Golden Gate Bridge Construction Innovations
- The climbing Derrick machine was invented to construct the giant towers, which could climb up and sit on the cells it had just constructed.
- The Derrick was supported by huge plungers, and a clever pulley motor arrangement allowed it to climb upward.
- The towers were constructed using prefabricated steel cells, with millions of rivets needed to connect them.
- Riveting work was done from the inside, with workers using built-in elevators to reach the tower work area.
- The foundation of the bridge was constructed using divers with engineering skills, who converted the lopsided ocean bed to a flat horizontal one using dynamite.
- The divers then assembled prefabricated steel structures on the seabed, which were covered with wooden forms and filled with concrete.
- A special cement called PCC was used to prevent the concrete from mixing with water and compromising the construction effort.
- The underwater concreting was done using a technique called tremi concreting, which reduced the chance of water contact.
- The foundation was constructed on a weak seabed, and a thick reinforced concrete slab was built to support the fender wall.
- The fender wall was slowly sunk into the seabed, and the entire structure was eventually built on a strong bedrock.
- The towers were constructed on the foundations, using cellular assembly of prefabricated pieces.
- The main cables of the Golden Gate Bridge were made up of 27,000 smaller steel wires, and were anchored to the bedrock with strand shoe steel plates.
- The suspension cables were attached to the main cables, and the deck structure was constructed using prefabricated trusses.
- The road deck was constructed using concrete, with a special International orange color used to paint the bridge.
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Climbing Derrick | A machine invented to construct the giant towers of the Golden Gate Bridge, capable of climbing up and sitting on the cells it had just constructed. | During the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, the climbing Derrick machine was used to build the giant towers. |
| Prefabricated Steel Cells | Steel structures built in a factory and assembled on-site, used to construct the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge. | The towers of the Golden Gate Bridge were constructed using prefabricated steel cells. |
| Riveting | The process of joining two metal parts together using rivets. | Riveting work was done from the inside of the towers, with workers using built-in elevators to reach the tower work area. |
| Tremi Concreting | A technique used to reduce the chance of water contact during underwater concrete construction. | The underwater concreting of the foundation was done using the tremi concreting technique. |
| PCC (Portland Cement Concrete) | A type of cement used to prevent the concrete from mixing with water and compromising the construction effort. | A special cement called PCC was used to prevent the concrete from mixing with water during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. |
| Fender Wall | A reinforced concrete slab built to support the structure of the Golden Gate Bridge. | The fender wall was slowly sunk into the seabed, and the entire structure was eventually built on a strong bedrock. |
| Bedrock | A solid layer of rock beneath the seabed, used as a foundation for the Golden Gate Bridge. | The entire structure of the Golden Gate Bridge was eventually built on a strong bedrock. |
| Main Cables | The large steel cables that support the suspension system of the Golden Gate Bridge. | The main cables of the Golden Gate Bridge were made up of 27,000 smaller steel wires. |
| Suspension Cables | The cables that suspend the road deck of the Golden Gate Bridge between the main cables. | The suspension cables were attached to the main cables, and the deck structure was constructed using prefabricated trusses. |
| International Orange | A special color used to paint the Golden Gate Bridge, also known as “Golden Gate Orange.” | The road deck was constructed using concrete, with a special International orange color used to paint the bridge. |
Golden Gate Bridge Construction Innovations Vocabulary Quiz
-
What does the term “prefabricated” mean in the context of the Golden Gate Bridge construction?
- Made on-site
- Assembled from pre-made parts
- Built using traditional methods
- Constructed using rivets only
-
What is the purpose of a “plunger” in the context of the Derrick machine?
- To lift the Derrick machine
- To support the Derrick machine
- To construct the towers
- To rivet the steel cells
-
What is “tremi concreting”?
- A type of cement used in construction
- A technique used to mix concrete
- A method of underwater concreting that reduces water contact
- A type of steel used in the bridge’s structure
-
What is the purpose of the “fender wall” in the Golden Gate Bridge’s foundation?
- To support the towers
- To protect the seabed
- To provide a flat surface for construction
- To anchor the main cables
-
What is “PCC” in the context of the Golden Gate Bridge construction?
- A type of steel used in the bridge’s structure
- A special type of cement used to prevent water contact
- A technique used in underwater concreting
- A type of rivet used to connect steel cells
Answer Key
- b) Assembled from pre-made parts
- b) To support the Derrick machine
- c) A method of underwater concreting that reduces water contact
- c) To provide a flat surface for construction
- b) A special type of cement used to prevent water contact
The Use of Passive Voice in Describing Complex Processes
| Explanation |
|---|
| The passive voice is often used to describe complex processes, especially in technical or scientific contexts. It allows the focus to be on the action or process rather than the doer of the action. In the text, the passive voice is used to describe the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, making the process sound more formal and objective. For example, “The towers were constructed using prefabricated steel cells” or “The foundation was constructed using divers with engineering skills”. This construction helps to emphasize the process itself rather than the people involved in it. |
Quiz
1. What is the main purpose of using the passive voice in describing complex processes?
| Options |
|---|
| A) To emphasize the doer of the action |
| B) To make the text sound more formal and objective |
| C) To simplify the language used |
| D) To make the text more engaging and interesting |
2. Which of the following sentences is in the passive voice?
| Options |
|---|
| A) The workers constructed the towers. |
| B) The towers were constructed by the workers. |
| C) The towers were constructed using prefabricated steel cells. |
| D) The workers were constructing the towers. |
3. Why is the passive voice used in the sentence “The foundation was constructed using divers with engineering skills”?
| Options |
|---|
| A) To emphasize the importance of the divers |
| B) To focus on the process of constructing the foundation |
| C) To make the sentence more concise |
| D) To make the sentence more engaging |
4. Which of the following sentences is NOT in the passive voice?
| Options |
|---|
| A) The towers were constructed using prefabricated steel cells. |
| B) The divers constructed the foundation. |
| C) The road deck was constructed using concrete. |
| D) The main cables were made up of 27,000 smaller steel wires. |
5. What is the effect of using the passive voice in the text?
| Options |
|---|
| A) It makes the text more engaging and interesting |
| B) It makes the text sound more formal and objective |
| C) It simplifies the language used |
| D) It emphasizes the doer of the action |
Answer Key
1. B) To make the text sound more formal and objective
2. C) The towers were constructed using prefabricated steel cells.
3. B) To focus on the process of constructing the foundation
4. B) The divers constructed the foundation.
5. B) It makes the text sound more formal and objective
