Lavr Dmitrievich Proskuryakov () (18 August 1858 – 14 September 1926) was a Russian bridge engineer. He was one of the foremost authorities on bridge engineering and

structural mechanics Structural mechanics or mechanics of structures is the computation of deformations, deflections, and internal forces or stresses (''stress equivalents'') within structures, either for design or for performance evaluation of existing structures. ...

in the

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and the early

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Life and career

Lavr Proskuryakov was born on 18 August 1858 in Borisovka,

Voronezh Governorate Voronezh Governorate was an administrative-territorial unit ('' guberniya'') of the Tsardom of Russia, the Russian Empire, and the Russian SFSR, which existed from 1708 (as ''Azov Governorate'') to 1779 and again from 1796 to 1928. Its capital wa ...

, into a large peasant family. In 1884, he graduated from the Saint-Petersburg Institute of Railway Engineers and began his career as a designer of bridges. Since 1887, he lectured at the same institute, and starting from 1896 Proskuryakov held the position of Full Professor at

Moscow State University of Railway Engineering The Russian University of Transport (RUT (MIIT); ), officially the Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education "Russian University of transport" () is a public university founded in 1896 and headquartered in Moscow, Russia. Along wit ...

. Even the early Proskuryakov's projects for bridges across the rivers

Western Bug The Bug or Western Bug is a major river in Central Europe that flows through Belarus (border), Poland, and Ukraine, with a total length of .Sula in the Ukrainian city of

Romny Romny (, ) is a city in Sumy Oblast, northern Ukraine. It is located on the Romen River. Romny serves as the administrative centre of Romny Raion and hosts the administration of , one of the hromadas of Ukraine. Population: History The city w ...

(1887) attracted attention by their novelty and ingenuity. The drawings of these bridges were presented by Professor L.F. Nicolai, Head of the Bridge Department of the Petersburg Institute of Railway Engineers, in his tutorial on bridge design for railway engineers.ВЫДАЮЩИЙСЯ ИНЖЕНЕР, УЧЕНЫЙ И ПЕДАГОГ (к 150-летию со дня рождения Л.Д. Проскурякова) // Вестник Петербургского государственного университета путей сообщения. - №13 (211). - 2.12.2008. - С.2
/ref> During the summer of 1895, Proskuryakov was granted the opportunity to travel abroad by the Academic Council of the institute. The purpose of his journey was twofold. Firstly, he aimed to attend the esteemed International Railway Congress in London, where he could engage with experts and scholars in the field. Secondly, he was assigned the task of studying mechanical institutes and bridges in various European cities, such as

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and

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. However, Proskuryakov's thirst for knowledge and desire to broaden his horizons did not stop in Europe. He decided to extend his journey to the United States, with his primary objective being to familiarize himself with the most magnificent bridges the country had to offer. Each visit to these awe-inspiring structures provided him with a deeper admiration for their engineering, as he learned from local experts and unraveled the secrets behind their impressive designs. Proskuryakov made a groundbreaking decision in Europe by choosing to reject the complex lattice girder truss design commonly used, which consisted of many vertical elements and diagonals. Instead, he developed a static triangular truss with fewer diagonal elements, simplifying the design. This innovative approach greatly improved the bridge structure's ability to evenly distribute dynamic loads. Lavr Proskuryakov dedicated his research and practical efforts to the creation of an impeccable truss superstructure, a goal he ultimately achieved with the construction of the magnificent railway bridge spanning the

Yenisei River The Yenisey or Yenisei ( ; , ) is the list of rivers by length, fifth-longest river system in the world, and the largest to drain into the Arctic Ocean. Rising in Mungaragiyn-gol in Mongolia, it follows a northerly course through Lake Baikal a ...

near

Krasnoyarsk Krasnoyarsk is the largest types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and administrative center of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. It is situated along the Yenisey, Yenisey River, and is the second-largest city in Siberia after Novosibirsk, with a p ...

. This uncommon bridge, constructed between 1896 and 1899, spanned an impressive distance of 1,000 meters (3,300 ft). Its truss superstructure was made up of six spans, each measuring 144.7 meters (475 ft) long. The bridge stood at a height of 21.64 meters (71.0 ft) and weighed an astounding 900 tons. To strengthen the piers against the forces of nature, Proskuryakov reinforced them with large starlings (cutwaters), strategically positioned to face upstream. This clever design effectively disrupted the flow of ice downstream during the annual spring thaw. During the bridge design process, Proskuryakov introduced a groundbreaking truss system that incorporated the camelback truss design, similar to the Schwedler truss. This modification raised the height of the main truss to 21.64 meters (71.0 ft), and Proskuriakov also introduced the concept of

influence line In engineering, an influence line graphs the variation of a function (such as the shear, moment etc. felt in a structural member) at a specific point on a beam or truss caused by a unit load placed at any point along the structure.Kharagpur"Str ...

s for truss bridges. This innovation enabled more accurate calculations of the internal forces on each truss member caused by the movement of loads on the bridge. The theory of influence lines for truss bridges has been widely embraced by engineers worldwide, not just in Russia. Moreover, the bridge set a groundbreaking precedent in Russia as the first to use the incremental launching method. The Yenisei Bridge gained recognition for its impressive engineering and technical features, making it the longest bridge in Russia and the second largest in Europe. The only bridge that was larger was located in the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

, spanning the

Lek River The Lek () is a river in the western Netherlands of some in length. It is the continuation of the Nederrijn after the Kromme Rijn branches off at the town of Wijk bij Duurstede. The main westbound waterway is hereafter called the Lek River. The ...

near Kuilenburg. The Yenisei Bridge was even showcased at the prestigious

Exposition Universelle (1900) The Exposition Universelle of 1900 (), better known in English as the 1900 Paris Exposition, was a world's fair held in Paris, France, from 14 April to 12 November 1900, to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate develop ...

, where its model received the esteemed gold medal. This achievement propelled Proskuryakov to become one of the country's most esteemed engineers. As a result of this recognition and success, the Yenisei Bridge was included in the

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, approved by

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. The Yenisei Bridge was highly innovative for its time when it was built. Proskuryakov's use of a static truss with subdivided panels and upward-angled top girders was later widely embraced and employed by many bridge engineers. Professor

Nikolai Belelubsky Nikolai Apollonovich Belelubsky (; ; March 1845, Kharkiv – August 4, 1922, Petrograd) was a distinguished Russian academic specialising in railway and civil engineering. Throughout his life, he became a member of many learned societies and the ...

, for instance, even adapted this system (with a few changeups) when designing a railway bridge over the

Volga River The Volga (, ) is the longest river in Europe and the longest endorheic basin river in the world. Situated in Russia, it flows through Central Russia to Southern Russia and into the Caspian Sea. The Volga has a length of , and a catchment ...

near

Sviyazhsk Sviyazhsk (; ) is a rural locality (a '' selo'') in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, located at the confluence of the Volga and Sviyaga Rivers. It is often referred to as an island since the 1955 construction of the Kuybyshev Reservoir downstr ...

. Proskuryakov successfully developed a variety of optimal span designs for various types of bridges. He had the responsibility of creating several unique multi-span bridges, including those that spanned the

Oka River The Oka (, ; ) is a river in central Russia, the largest right tributary of the Volga. It flows through the regions of Oryol, Tula, Kaluga, Moscow, Ryazan, Vladimir and Nizhny Novgorod and is navigable over a large part of its total length, ...

near

Kashira Kashira () is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, town and the administrative center of Kashirsky District, Moscow Oblast, Kashirsky District in Moscow Oblast, located on the Oka River south of Moscow. Population: History It was first ...

in 1897,

Belyov Belyov () is a town and the administrative center of Belyovsky District in Tula Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Oka River. Population: 13,180 (2018); History As is the case with many other towns in the former Upper Oka Principal ...

Bridge in 1897, and

Murom Murom (, ) is a historical types of inhabited localities in Russia, city in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, which sprawls along the west bank of the Oka River. It borders Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and is situated from the administrative center Vladimir, ...

Bridge in 1912. Furthermore, he was involved in designing the Vyatka Bridge along the Cherepovets-Vologda-Vyatka line in 1902, Volkhov Bridge in 1902, and, of course, the grand

Khabarovsk Bridge Khabarovsk Bridge is a road and rail bridge built in 1999. It crosses the Amur River in eastern Russia, and connects the urban-type settlement of Imeni Telmana in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast with the city of Khabarovsk in Khabarovsk Krai. Until ...

in 1916, which was an important part of the Trans-Siberian Railway. These are just a few examples of the numerous notable bridge projects that Proskuryakov contributed to throughout his career. In 1903, upon the request of the Society of the Moscow-Kazan Railway, Proskuriyakov, together with a team of skilled bridge designers from various local and international backgrounds, worked together to develop an initial plan for a remarkable bridge that would extend over the expansive Volga River near

Kazan Kazan; , IPA: Help:IPA/Tatar, ɑzanis the largest city and capital city, capital of Tatarstan, Russia. The city lies at the confluence of the Volga and the Kazanka (river), Kazanka Rivers, covering an area of , with a population of over 1. ...

city. This remarkable structure aimed to showcase an impressive span of 165 meters (equivalent to an astonishing 541 feet), drawing inspiration from the awe-inspiring Yenisei Bridge. In 1904, Proskuryakov took on the task of creating two magnificent rail bridges made of arched steel. These bridges, known as Andreyevsky and Krasnoluzhsky, were meant to cross the beautiful

Moscow River The Moskva (, ''Moskva-reka'') is a river that flows through European Russia, western Russia. It River source, rises about west of Moscow and flows roughly east through the Smolensk Oblast, Smolensk and Moscow Oblasts, passing through central M ...

and play an important role in the Moscow Circular Railway. What set these bridges apart was their double tracks, which allowed for more efficient transportation. Located within the city limits, these twin bridges were not only functional, but also visually appealing. Proskuryakov skillfully designed them to match the architectural standards of the time, seamlessly blending into the urban landscape. The bridges' graceful appearance complemented the surrounding structures, highlighting the artistic vision and attention to detail of their creator. The bridge across the Amur River

The iconic

, constructed during the era of Imperial Russia, stands as another significant accomplishment in the field of bridge engineering. Designed by Proskuryakov, this renowned structure spanned across the majestic Amur River near Khabarovsk. With its impressive length of 2,590 meters (8,500 ft) and a robust steel framework, the bridge was a remarkable feat of engineering. It was built with a single track to allow trains to pass smoothly. The bridge was officially opened on 5 October 1916, alongside the completion of the Trans-Siberian Railroad, marking a major milestone in the region's transportation history. In a manner similar to the Yenisei Bridge, the piers of the Khabarovsk Bridge were constructed with sturdy buttresses facing upstream. These buttresses were specifically designed as inclined planes to address the issue of ice accumulation against the piers. The bridge's impressive overall height, measuring at 12 meters (equivalent to 39 feet) from the

upper deck The Upper Deck Company, LLC (colloquially as Upper Deck and Upper Deck Authenticated, Ltd. in the UK) is a private company primarily known for producing trading cards. It was founded in 1988. Its headquarters are in Carlsbad, California, United ...

to the highest point the water surface elevation could reach, allowed for larger ships to pass smoothly beneath it, even during the peak summer season when water levels in the Amur River were at their highest. The construction of this bridge required a significant financial investment from the Russian state treasury, totaling more than 13 million rubles. This amount was considered a substantial sum of money during the time when the bridge was constructed.Амурское чудо - Издательский мост Биробиджан
Proskuryakov was a strong proponent of the

graphical method This is a list of graphical methods with a mathematical basis. Included are diagram techniques, chart techniques, plot techniques, and other forms of visualization. There is also a list of computer graphics and descriptive geometry topics. Sim ...

(or the dummy load method) for truss analysis that was based on the theory of influence lines. In 1891–1892, Proskuryakov conducted a practical course on the utilization of diagrammatic statics in civil engineering. Notably, it is worth mentioning that two years later, this course was made an obligatory component of the training program for railway engineers. When Proskuryakov designed the bridge over the

Kotorosl River The Kotorosl () is a right tributary of the Volga in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia. The river flows from Lake Nero near Rostov past Karabikha and enters the Volga in Yaroslavl. It is long, and has a drainage basin A drainage basin is an area of l ...

in the

Yaroslavl Governorate Yaroslavl Governorate () was an administrative-territorial unit ('' guberniya'') of the Russian Empire and the Russian SFSR, located in European Russia in the Upper Volga Region. It existed from 1777 to 1929; its seat was in the city of Yaros ...

, he made a groundbreaking contribution: he became the pioneer in introducing a set of unique tables that were specifically intended for bridge builders to use when calculating the load-carrying capacity of bridges. This innovative development not only made the complex process of analyzing trusses simpler, but it also had a major influence on the field of bridge engineering. Proskuryakov's introduction of influence lines and the subsequent development of these tables revolutionized the field of bridge engineering, gaining widespread recognition and adoption on a global scale. Image:Moscow Gorky Park Pushkinsky Bridge 08-2016 img1.jpg, Pushkinsky Bridge in

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

(1905–07) Image:Moscow Gorky Park Pushkinsky Bridge 08-2016 img2.jpg, Another view of Pushkinsky Bridge Image:Prokudin-Gorskii-25.jpg, Bridge on the

Trans-Siberian Railway The Trans-Siberian Railway, historically known as the Great Siberian Route and often shortened to Transsib, is a large railway system that connects European Russia to the Russian Far East. Spanning a length of over , it is the longest railway ...

Perm Perm or PERM may refer to: Places * Perm, Russia, a city in Russia **Permsky District, the district **Perm Krai, a federal subject of Russia since 2005 **Perm Oblast, a former federal subject of Russia 1938–2005 ** Perm Governorate, an administr ...

References

External links

"Pioneer of the Russian Bridge Science"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Proskuryakov, Lavr 1858 births 1926 deaths Russian inventors Russian engineers Bridge engineers Russian scientists

Life and career

See also

References

External links