Design philosophy of the ball-joint and foundation
The steel plates in the core are
separated so to provide room to walk. The
hollow pedestals and spheroidal shells
are separated at rest, while the ball-
joint can also be jacked up from the
pedestals. This design means that the
shells and pedestals are readily
accessible for maintenance and inspection
purposes when at rest.
The design of the hinge is based on two
requirements. In the first place the
hinge must be exceptionally reliable and
solid. The other requirement was ease of
inspection and maintenance after
positioning.