• @[email protected]
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    746 months ago

    Technically it’s the manhole covers that need to support the weight.

    Manholes themselves are expected to do the opposite of holding weight

      • @[email protected]
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        76 months ago

        Structures underground experience buoyant forces that act to push them up. Manholes (and any structure bottom, like storm inlets, pump station wet wells, etc) need special consideration since they can be partially or mostly hollow, so they have to be heavy enough to remain in place.

        • @[email protected]
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          56 months ago

          You know, I knew that but couldn’t figure out what the opposite of weight was for some reason. Thanks for the extra learning!

          Fun fact: Coffins experience this force too, and during flooding can rise up out of the ground

          • @[email protected]
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            6 months ago

            Ah, that explains why my grandpa was buried in a lead coffin.
            He lost a lot of weight right before he died, so he was too light!

        • @[email protected]
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          6 months ago

          Right, so the light is actually pushed up by these buoyant forces and I guess that then also explains why it’s so dark underground. Fascinating how learning some little new details about the world can sometimes make it all just click together!

          But does that mean that light is actually hollow?

    • @[email protected]
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      36 months ago

      Technically, the walls of the manholes, in turn, support the weight of the cover and whatever load is on top of it. The entire manhole is a weight-bearing structure.