35. Durable structures
Tube
The world is full of all kinds of structures, some of which are more durable than others. The tube is one of the simplest and most durable structures in the world. A tube is a strong structure, but at the same time it is also very light. In addition, tubes do not take up a lot of raw material to produce, which saves a lot of money. This is why steel tubes are used to build all kinds of things, from furniture to traffic signs.
Tube structures can be used to build furniture (on the right) or traffic sings (on the left).
Many kinds of tall structures, such as floodlights and light posts, are made from steel tubes. Steel tubes are very durable, but they are also light to transport and handle.
Steel tubes can be used to build durable, tall structures.
The bones of the human limbs are also hollow. Hollow bones are durable, but they are also lightweight. The bones of other animals can also be hollow. For example, most of the bones in the body of a bird are hollow. This makes it easier for the bird to fly.
Tubes are durable but light structures. They can be found in electric posts (on the left) or even in bones (on the right).
Triangles
The triangle is another example of a strong, durable structure. Like tubes, triangular structures are durable yet lightweight. They also use up little amounts of raw materials, which helps to save money. This is why triangular structures are used in all kinds of buildings and devices. For example, the roof of a house can be made out of triangular structures. This makes it more resistant to rainfall and snow storms than a flat roof.
Even a rectangle can be turned into a durable structure if you add at least one triangular structure to it.
Electricity poles can be built using triangular structures. Light posts and floodlights can likewise be built using triangular structures. This makes them durable and lightweight.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris may well be the most famous building in the world. It uses triangular structures, which is why it is durable but uses only a relatively small amount of material. Crane lifts also make use of triangular structures.
