The steep Bent Pyramid of Dhashur in Saqqara, Egypt.
http://www.crystalinks.com/bentpyr.gif

There have been various attempts in the past to build 52° degrees pyramids and even steeper. Pharaoh Snefru (2680 to 2565 B.C.), first ruler of the 4th Dynasty and the father of Khufu (builder of the Great Pyramid), build the Bent Pyramid of Dhashur during the age of the Old Kingdom.

This is perhaps one of the first attempts to build an impressive 60° degrees pyramid but for engineering concerns the slope angle was changed to a less steeper 54° degrees, still, additional reduction on the angle was necessary and the Dhashur pyramid suffered a dramatic change on the direction of the slope half way thru its construction, ending up with a 43° degree angle.

http://www.crystalinks.com/bentpyrdesign.gif

---Quote---
The original plan was to build a true pyramid with a rather steep slope of about 60° degrees, but about half-way through construction the outer casing began to crack. To prevent further subsidence, additional masonry was added to all four sides, reducing the angle of inclination to 54° degrees. Yet it was too late. Fissures in the blocks of the completed internal chambers appeared.

They tried everything: plaster patches, a new lining of masonry, and even imported cedar logs to shore up the walls. Ultimately, the architects decided that a radical reduction of the angle and a change in the method of laying the masonry were required. The upper half of the pyramid was completed at an angle of 43° degrees to a height of 105 m (344 ft.) with smaller stones laid in horizontal rather than inwardly sloping courses to diminish the weight of the mass. Then Snefru started again...
---/Quote---

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_e2ww7R5ATWg/Rm6gwLTppLI/AAAAAAAACp4/1ghKeume7pE/27+Dhashur+-+angles+misjudged+%3D+bent+pyramid.JPG
Source(s):
http://www.crystalinks.com/bentpyr.html

Asker's Rating:

Permalink | Report