Egypt is building the world's largest archaeological museum. At the entrance stands the San El-Hagar stone obelisk, protected from earthquakes and vibrations by special MAURER lead rubber bearings.
MAURER developed special seismic isolators to absorb dynamic loads acting on the obelisk. The primary focus is on reducing accelerations during an earthquake to prevent the obelisk from toppling.
Dual Protection: Earthquakes and Vibrations
"Damping is also required to protect against everyday vibrations caused by traffic and construction equipment. These high-frequency vibrations can, over time, lead to the destruction of the obelisk," explains Raad Hamoud, MAURER's Regional Sales Director for the Middle East and Africa.
MAURER lead rubber bearings provide both seismic isolation and high-frequency vibration absorption simultaneously — a unique combination for protecting priceless cultural artifacts.
Technical Specifications
Lead Rubber Bearings (LRB) utilize the hysteretic properties of the lead core to absorb seismic energy. The rubber layers provide horizontal flexibility of the structure while vertical stiffness remains high.
- Reduction of horizontal accelerations during an earthquake
- Absorption of high-frequency vibrations from traffic
- Long service life with no maintenance required
- Minimal intervention into the historical artifact
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is the world's largest museum dedicated to ancient Egyptian culture. Its opening will attract millions of tourists who will be able to see the obelisk under the reliable protection of MAURER technology.