Design and Analysis of Lighthouse chapter 1


CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 INTRODUCTION
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and used as a navigational aid for mariners and local fisherman at sea or on inland waterways. Lighthouses mark dangerous coastlines, hazardous shoals, reefs, safe entries to harbors, and can also assist in aerial navigation. Once widely used, the number of operational lighthouses has declined due to the expense of maintenance and replacement by modern electronic navigational systems. A lighthouse light is a concentrated beam, focused by special lenses. Because of its highly increased intensity, this beam of light can travel a very long distance.
1.2 SPECIFICATION
Ø  Plinth area of Ground floor is 1225 Sq.ft.
Ø  Plinth area of first floor to sixth floor is 324 sq.ft of each.
Ø  Windows with glass panel of 1.2m X 1.2m.
Ø  Door of Wood paneled with single flush is of 1.2m X 2.1m
Ø  Steps of Dog legged with Tread is 230mm and Rise is 150mm.
Ø  Total No. of steps in the Lighthouse is 108 steps.
Ø  Hydraulic room less Lift is provided with the maximum capacity of 10 passengers.
Ø  Shear wall is provided in the structure.
Ø  Structural Elements are:
·         Beam
·         Column
·         Slab
·         Staircase
·         Pile Foundation
·         Pile cap
Ø  No. of pile is 56
Ø  Plan Specification
·         Office room
·         Waiting room
·         Keeper’s room
·         Generator and power supply room
·         Lift car
Ø  Lantern room specification
·         Fresnel lens of Second order is up to 20 nautical miles.
·         Fixed lamp is Xenon Lamp of 1000 watt bulb.
Ø  Height of Tower
·         Height is 24m (80ft).
·         Focal plane Height is 20.5m (67ft).
Height of Light in meter
Height of Eye in meter
Distance of light in Nautical miles
Distance in Kilometer

20.5
3
13
24
5
14
26
10
16
30
Table 1.1 Distance Travel of Light
Ø  Proposed Land Area is Karaikal
·         For the Use of Navigation of Sea Sailors.
·         For the Use of Navigation of Karaikal Port.
·         For the Use of Navigation of River Arasalar river.
·         For the Use of Navigation Fishermen’s.
1.3 LIGHTHOUSE TERMS 

1.3.1 Lightning Rod
Lighthouses are struck by lightning a regular basis. Metal poles called lightning rods are attached to the tops of lighthouses to help minimize the damage created by lightning strikes. A lightning rod is attached to a thick copper wire that runs from the top of the lighthouses down to the ground. When lightning strikes the tower, it enters through the lightning rod, travels down the wire, and goes into the ground where it can cause less damage.
1.3.2 Cupola
The cupola is the roof of the lantern room. Because temperatures inside the lantern room can often soar well above 110 degrees, a metal ball at the top of the cupola provides ventilation and allows the heat to escape.
1.3.3 Lantern Room
 The lantern room is the most important room in a lighthouse because that is where the lighthouse beacon (or light) is located. The walls of the lantern room are made of glass so the light can be seen at night.
1.3.4 Widow’s Walk
  Named after the wives of sailors who watch for the return of their husband’s ship from the top of their house, the widow’s walk is a narrow platform that provides access to the outside of the lantern room.
1.3.5 Gallery Deck
  The gallery deck is a platform that circles the tower just below the lantern room. You can access the gallery deck from the service room through a heavy iron door. Lighthouse keepers would watch the weather and scan the horizon for approaching ships from the gallery deck.
1.3.6 Service Room
  The service room is the Keepers room where keepers would store cleaning equipment, spare parts for the beacon, and tools for working on the lighthouse.
1.3.7 Watch Room
The watch room is the office room where keepers kept their log. A log is a kind of journal that keepers wrote brief descriptions of daily events, weather conditions, and notes in. Additional items used by keepers while on watch or while working at the top of the lighthouse were stored in this room as well.
1.3.8 Windows
Most lighthouses had windows to cool the tower and provide light.
1.3.9 Staircase
 Most lighthouses have a long staircase leading from the bottom of the tower to the top.
1.3.10 Counterweight Well
 Before electricity, lighthouse beacons were turned using a system of gears powered by weights that hung down the center of the tower. The counterweight well would catch any weights that broke loose.
1.3.11 Entrance
 Every lighthouse has a door leading into it.
1.3.12 Foundation
A lighthouse’s foundation keeps it from falling over.
1.3.13 LIGHTS - DISTANCE OFF WHEN RISING OR DIPPING (NAUTICAL MILES)
Lights - distance off when rising or dipping (Nautical Miles)

Height of Eye Meters
Height of Light
Meters
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
10
8.7
9.5
10.2
10.8
11.3
11.7
12.1
12.5
12.8
13.2
12
9.3
10.1
10.8
11.4
11.9
12.3
12.7
13.1
13.4
13.8
14
9.9
10.7
11.4
12.0
12.5
12.9
13.3
13.7
14.0
14.4
16
10.4
11.2
11.9
12.5
13.0
13.4
13.8
14.2
14.5
14.9
18
10.9
11.7
12.4
13.0
13.5
13.9
14.3
14.7
15.0
15.4
20
11.4
12.2
12.9
13.5
14.0
14.4
14.8
15.2
15.5
15.9
22
11.9
12.7
13.4
14.0
14.5
14.9
15.3
15.7
16.0
16.4
24
12.3
13.1
13.8
14.4
14.9
15.3
15.7
16.1
16.4
17.0
26
12.7
13.5
14.2
14.8
15.3
15.7
16.1
16.5
16.8
17.2
28
13.1
13.9
14.6
15.2
15.7
16.1
16.5
16.9
17.2
17.6
30
13.5
14.3
15.0
15.6
16.1
16.5
16.9
17.2
17.6
18.0
32
13.9
14.7
15.4
16.0
16.5
16.9
17.3
17.7
18.0
18.4
34
14.2
15.0
15.7
16.3
16.8
17.2
17.6
18.0
18.3
18.7
36
14.6
15.4
16.1
16.7
17.2
17.6
18.0
18.4
18.7
19.1
38
14.9
15.7
16.4
17.0
17.5
17.9
18.3
18.7
19.0
19.4
40
15.3
16.1
16.8
17.4
17.9
18.2
18.7
19.1
19.4
19.8
42
15.6
16.4
17.1
17.7
18.2
18.6
19.0
19.4
19.7
20.1
44
15.9
16.7
17.4
18.0
19.5
18.9
19.3
19.7
20.0
20.4
46
16.2
17.0
17.7
18.3
18.8
19.2
19.6
20.0
20.3
20.7
48
16.5
17.3
18.0
18.6
19.1
19.5
19.9
20.3
20.6
21.0
50
16.8
17.6
18.3
18.9
19.4
19.8
20.2
20.6
20.9
21.3
55
17.5
18.3
19.0
19.6
20.1
20.5
20.9
21.3
21.6
22.0
60
18.2
19.0
19.7
20.3
20.8
21.2
21.6
22.0
22.3
22.7
65
18.9
19.7
20.4
21.0
21.5
21.9
22.3
22.7
23.0
23.4
70
19.5
20.3
21.0
21.6
22.1
22.5
22.9
23.2
23.6
24.0
75
20.1
20.9
21.6
22.2
22.7
23.1
23.5
23.9
24.2
24.6
80
20.7
21.5
22.2
22.8
23.3
23.7
24.1
24.5
24.8
25.2
85
21.3
22.1
22.8
23.4
23.9
24.3
24.7
15.1
25.4
25.8
90
21.8
22.6
23.3
23.9
24.4
24.8
25.2
15.6
25.9
26.3
95
22.4
23.2
23.9
24.5
25.0
25.4
25.8
16.2
26.5
26.9
Table 1.2 Lights - Distance Off When Rising or Dipping (Nautical Miles)
1.3.14 Basic Operation of the Lens
The operation of the lens itself is quite simple by today’s standards, but was considered revolutionary when it was first developed. 
1.3.15 Illuminants
Early illuminants such as wood and coal were used to produce light in lighthouses.  Forty years before the Fresnel lens was invented, Swiss Physicist Ami Argand had invented the "hollow" wick for use in his lamp.  The hollow wick was an important discovery over usage of the solid wick for many reasons.  It burned brighter as well as cleaner.  This would be particularly important later on when the Fresnel lens came along.  With its hundreds of prisms to maintain it would have been a constant task just keeping them clean.  Even with the hollow wick, daily cleaning was still necessary but the buildup of soot and smoke wasn't nearly as bad.  As cleaner, safer, and more efficient illuminants were discovered, the more traditional methods were no longer used.  Below is a list of primary illuminants used for light and an approximate time frame in which they were used.

Whale Oil.......1720-1864
Lard Oil..........1864-1884
Kerosene.......1884-1955
Acetylene......1904-1980
Electricity......1898- present
1.3.16 Photographs of Lenses
In 1939, President Roosevelt signed legislation which transferred jurisdiction of the nation's lighthouses to the Coast Guard.  As technological advances such as fog detectors, sun relays, and electricity became widely accepted, more and more stations were automated, eliminating the need for lighthouse keepers.  Aero beacons, plastic lenses and other modern optics were also being developed.  These modern optics were smaller, more cost effective to use and maintain, and began replacing the Fresnel lens in the lantern rooms across the nation.  While most Fresnel lenses have been removed from the lighthouses, thankfully, a number of the classical Fresnel lenses have been saved and are on display in lighthouse and maritime museums across the country. 


1.3.17 Order by size

 

Order
Height
Inside
Diameter
First
7' 10"
6' 1"
Second
6' 1"
4' 7"
Third
4' 8"
3' 3"
Third and 1/2
3' 0"
2' 5 1/2"
Fourth
2' 4"
1' 8"
Fifth
1' 8"
1' 3"
Sixth
1' 5"
1' 0"
Table 1.3 Order of Size
1.3.18 Source
Guardians of the Golden Gate: Lighthouses and Lifeboat Stations of San Francisco Bay Ralph Shanks and Lisa Woo Shanks, editor. 1995, Costano Books, ISBN: 0-930268-083.
1.3.19 Application
The Second Order lens was used in seacoast and warning lights to mark headlands, dangerous oceanic shoals, rocks or reefs. It was used quite frequently in the Great Lakes Lights, on islands, and in marking sounds. Two of the Great Lakes lights that were outfitted with this order of lens were White Shoal & Grosse Point.
1.3.20 Specifications
           
Lens height:
81.46"
Focal length: 
27.6"
Weight of assembly: 
3,530 lbs.
Relative brightness (over sixth order):
11.54x
Useful range: 
Up to 20 nautical miles
Number in US Lighthouses in 1884: 
19
Number in US Lighthouses in 1922:
26
Oil consumption per hour
17.5 oz.

1.3.21 References
Annual Report of the Lighthouse Board, 1884
The United States Lighthouse Service
, Dept. of Commerce, 1915
Aids to Navigation Manual, US Coast Guard, 1945
Comparative Table of Lens Orders, Mabel A. Baiges, 1988
Letter from Al & Helen Gademsky, 07/02/01

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