The Oceanic Bridge

1. Average depth of the Atlantic Ocean:

According to Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Ocean
"The average depth of the Atlantic, with its adjacent seas, is 3,339 metres (10,950 ft); without them it is 3,926 metres (12,880 ft). The greatest depth, 8,605 metres (28,230 ft), is in the Puerto Rico Trench. The Atlantic's width varies from 2,848 kilometres (1,770 mi) between Brazil and Sierra Leone to over 6,400 km (4,000 mi) in the south."

For comparison, the depth of the ocean's deepest point at the Mariana Trench is approximately 33,000 feet:
http://photos1.blogger.com/photoInclude/x/blogger/7753/1056/1600/287845/ocean%20zones.gif


2. The curvature of the earth:
-How would the curvature of the earth impact the bridge's design?
Consider this sketch by How Stuff Works-
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question65.htm



3. The structure itself:
The "Half-Pipe" Idea
-Instead of drilling columns into the ocean floor could a beam be constructed that could support the weight of the bridge's columns?
-How much weight would the beam have to support?
-What materials are best?
-Would it be underwater and if so, what about water pressure, corrosion, etc.?
-Could the beam float or be filled with water?
-How thick would it be and what structures would support the beam at its weakest point, presumably the middle?



The Oil Rig Platform Model
According to Solar Navigator:
http://www.solarnavigator.net/oil_rigs.htm
"Semi-submersible Platforms having legs of sufficient buoyancy to cause the structure to float, but of weight sufficient to keep the structure upright. Semi-submersible rigs can be moved from place to place; and can be lowered into or raised by altering the amount of flooding in buoyancy tanks; they are generally anchored by cable anchors during drilling operations, though they can also be kept in place by the use of steerable thrusters. Semi-submersible can be used in depths from 600 to 6,000 feet (180 to 1,800 m)."
The Oil Rig Hibernia, below, as a structure demonstrates that structures can be built to withstand the ocean climate and that the technology exists to to go to depths up to 6,000 feet. Perhaps a series of these structures, similarly built, could be placed at certain distances apart to create a bridge that was more flexible and at the same time sturdy enough to support human traffic across long distances.

To begin the task of fulling one of my dreams; a dream to build a bridge that physically connects South America and Africa, I have decided to move beyond verbalization with random colleagues and confidants and move to placing and researching my idea in a more public manner. So far I realize that my idea is a lofty one and for many that I have talked to it sounds pretty impossible. But, for me, I like all the challenges it presents (physical, technical, social, political, financial, cultural, environmental, etc.) and to top it off it would be amazing for people to journey across such a structure-it will surely test us.

I began exploring this idea, in my own head, sometime around 2001/2002, and since then I have flirted with it, but now I feel that just to simply have this idea is not enough. I need to explore it fully and in some respects that exploration might be sufficient in satisfying my passion alone. So here I am, at the beginning.

I suppose the likely beginning is why a bridge and why South America, namely Brazil, and why Africa, principally West Africa. Well, my reasons are fairly simple yet the assumptions that underlay them are quite powerful. I believe that inside each and every one of us lives a motivation, however small, to experience the larger world-to migrate, move, connect, push, pull, and identify with each other. The ocean-in all its intensity, beauty, and awe, is an adventure. It is also a friend and foe and something about it gives us a sense that it may be a great equalizer when matched against all of humanities' might and intellect. For me, imagining the impossible gets me excited and it almost seems naive that earth, spanning across thousands of miles of water, rooted in vastly unique circumstances on either side can be joined. Well then, the great thinkers, builders, and visionaries of our time and time to come could certainly take a concept and make it more real--for we are all inventors and scientists. This is why a bridge and why South America and West Africa.

Here is a general outline of areas I need to explore or items I need to do in no particular order, necessarily:

-Learn about humanity's relationship with and views of bridges.
-Learn about bridges-their structure, purpose, uses, etc.
-Learn about the geographic areas where I would like to see the bridges built.
-Examine the situational realities of humanity (physical, technical, social, political, financial, cultural, environmental, etc.) that would impact/influence a project of this undertaking.
-Try modeling/building virtual bridges, structurally speaking, to see the physical feasibility and challenges of the proposed bridge.
- And on and on and so forth......I m sure the list will grow as I begin to realize the entirety of such an idea.....