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The MGM Lion in Las Vegas is the largest bronze structure in North
America. It stands 45 feet on top of an 18 foot pedestal. A major
challenge in realizing this structure was accounting for the
temperature differentials that occur over to whole body of the lion
from the sunny to shady sides and to assure that they would not adversely
affect the shape or structural integrity of the lion. The solution was
an interior steel structure with a unique system of rods adjustable in
length by utilizing turnbuckle connections to the outer bronze skin.
(schematic of turnbuckles - pdf file, 37Kb)
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Von-Mises stress on lion's
outer shell
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Computer model of
supporting steel frame
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The finite element analysis method was used to study the
interactions between the support frame and the skin under stress from
temperature changes and forces of earthquakes, wind, gravity, and in
combination with all.
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Rendering of lion w/frame
and attachments
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The lion was first modeled by the artist, Snell M. Johnson as a 3 foot
tall sculpture. This physical model was digitized to create a 3D
computer model from which the support frame and attachment points
were designed and FEA analysis conducted. A full size Styrofoam
version of the sculpture was generated from the computer model and
used to cast the final bronze.
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Bahman Ehsan delivered a
talk on the design of this project at the 2000 AISC Convention in Las
Vegas, Nevada.
Sample
Blue Print - pdf file, 262Kb
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3-D
rendering of lion
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View from
street
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3786 La Crescenta Ave. Suite 205-6 | Glendale, CA 91208
Office: (818) 957-2218 | Fax:
(818) 957-2604
Email Info: info@ehsan-engineering.com
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