ELT - EXTREMELY LARGE TELESCOPE
European Southern Observatory Agency
Straus7 FE Global Model Straus7 Main Structure
Straus7 FE Global Model Straus7 Dome
ELT - EXTREMELY LARGE TELESCOPE
European Southern Observatory Agency
CLIENT: ESO (European Southern Observatory)
STRUCTURAL DESIGN: Cimolai S.p.A.
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: ATI ASTALDI CIMOLAI
EXECUTIVE AND CONSTRUCTION STRUCTURAL DESIGN: Cimolai S.p.A. and RS Ingegneria
METAL STRUCTURES SUPPLY: Cimolai S.p.A.
ASSEMBLY DESIGN: Cimolai S.p.A.
CONSTRUCTION: Cimolai S.p.A.
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CLIENT: ESO (European Southern Observatory) |
The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) project of the European Southern Observatory represents
one of the most ambitious scientific and engineering undertakings ever realized. Located atop Cerro
Armazones, at an altitude of about 3,000 meters in the Atacama Desert, Chile, the ELT will be the
largest optical and near-infrared telescope in the world, with a primary mirror (M1) 39 meters in
diameter, composed of 798 hexagonal segments. The ELT will employ sophisticated "adaptive
optics" technologies to compensate for the turbulence of the Earth's atmosphere and ensure that its
images are sharper than those of any other telescope. The ELT consists of a Dome approximately
80 meters high and 93 meters in diameter, providing the necessary protection to the internal
telescope structure (Main Structure) from the extreme desert environment. Cimolai, besides being
the general contractor and supplier of the metal structures, developed the PDR (Preliminary Design
Phase), FDR (Final Design Phase), and MRR (Construction Design) for the main metal carpentry
structure and secondary structures such as accesses (walkways, platforms, stairs, elevator shafts).
The Straus7 calculation code was used to create the global FEM (Finite Element Method) model of
beam and plate & shell type for the metal carpentry of the Dome and the Main Structure, both
during operation and assembly phases by exploiting “construction stage analysis.” Straus7 was also
used for linear and nonlinear analyses of material and geometry for local plate & shell and brick
finite element models to verify the strength, fatigue, and stiffness of nodes, bolted, and welded
connections.
Text, photo and images of finite element model, courtesy of Cimolai S.p.A.
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The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) project of the European Southern Observatory represents one of the most ambitious scientific and engineering undertakings ever realized. Located atop Cerro Armazones, at an altitude of about 3,000 meters in the Atacama Desert, Chile, the ELT will be the largest optical and near-infrared telescope in the world, with a primary mirror (M1) 39 meters in diameter, composed of 798 hexagonal segments. The ELT will employ sophisticated "adaptive optics" technologies to compensate for the turbulence of the Earth's atmosphere and ensure that its images are sharper than those of any other telescope. The ELT consists of a Dome approximately 80 meters high and 93 meters in diameter, providing the necessary protection to the internal telescope structure (Main Structure) from the extreme desert environment. Cimolai, besides being the general contractor and supplier of the metal structures, developed the PDR (Preliminary Design Phase), FDR (Final Design Phase), and MRR (Construction Design) for the main metal carpentry structure and secondary structures such as accesses (walkways, platforms, stairs, elevator shafts). The Straus7 calculation code was used to create the global FEM (Finite Element Method) model of beam and plate & shell type for the metal carpentry of the Dome and the Main Structure, both during operation and assembly phases by exploiting “construction stage analysis.” Straus7 was also used for linear and nonlinear analyses of material and geometry for local plate & shell and brick finite element models to verify the strength, fatigue, and stiffness of nodes, bolted, and welded connections. Text, photo and images of finite element model, courtesy of Cimolai S.p.A. |
For further information about Straus7 please contact us by e-mail:
straus7@hsh.info
