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Supplied: K series Pot Bearings

The Palace or Pyramid of Peace - Astana, Kazakhstan

Due for completion in the Summer of 2006 and designed by world renowned architect Lord Norman Foster, The Palace or Pyramid of Peace will become the base for inner ethnic harmony in Kazakhstan. The pyramid itself has a 62metre square base and will stand at 62 metres high when finished. The pyramid itself will have more space inside than St. Pauls Cathedral in London and more than Istanbuls Hagia Sophia.
This project has had the full support of President Nursultan Nazarbayev who has ploughed millions into the project as it forms the centre of his 1998 Kisho Kurokawa masterplan. The pyramid itself will house a circular chamber so they can host the congress of religious leaders. This chamber will be perched on 4 huge struts and supported by Ekspan bearings which are intended to symbolise the hands of peace. Below this there is to be a research centre into the
worlds religions along with a huge library. These sections will not be open to the general public, however the pyramid has been built on a low artificial hill making it even taller. The hill houses a 1500 seat opera house. The auditorium has a circular glass oculus ceiling which is set into the floor of the pyramids central atrium.

Job Brief

Background Information

Project Team

Client: President Nursultan Nazarbayev
Architect: Foster and Partners
Main Contractor: Sembol Construction
Start Date: October 2005
Completion Date: June 2006

 

Bearings

 

The Pyramid has been constructed using a steel skeleton with stone and stained glass making up the walls. Ekspan Ltd has supplied bearings to support the huge Skeleton including 2 large uplift link bearings for the centre of the pyramid. We supplied a total of 34 bearings to provide the support, 2 guided bearings, 2 no fixed uplift link bearings and 30 no free sliding pot bearings. The largest bearings were designed to take a nominal vertical load of 1800 tonnes. The smallest bearing only carries a nominal 50 tonnes vertical load. The bearings were manufactured in a very short space of time as they were required in Kazakhstan before the winter set in where temperatures can reach -40C. All of the bearings manufactured had the following features, Welded stainless steel slide surface, Dimpled and greased Virgin PTFE, 2 brass ring sets and recessed elastomers. All of these features enhance the lifespan and quality of the bearing and are all included as standard for all of our pot bearings.

Ekspan's Solution

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