Nacelle support strut shape (spoilers)

[M'Sharak]

The Enterprise is often not in a 'zero-g' environment, and it has considerable mass.

But since the shape of the arch works by gravity-induced (or buttress-aided) compression inward, that doesn't matter here.

I agree. The fact that the direction of acceleration is not static makes the value of arched pylons dubious.

There may be some other explanation. I'd be interested in seeing Arlo elaborate on what he said here about it possibly not being an accidental choice.

Looking at the screen grabs and various fan-made speculations, I think its not an accident that the nacelle struts are curved about the same as the sides of a lancet Gothic arch.

 

[Arlo]

Classical Greek columns have a slight bulge to their profile called entasis (read up, it's pretty interesting), which, according to general belief, was meant to counteract the optical illusion of the columns appearing too narrow (or convex) from a distance.

Like the Greeks adding a visual element to enhance the appearance of strength, I think the curved pylons, rather than serving a functional purpose, are designed to, if subconsciously, give the appearance of strength by mimicking architectural forms. In this case, the curve of an arch.

 

[M'Sharak]

Classical Greek columns have a slight bulge to their profile called entasis (read up, it's pretty interesting), which, according to general belief, was meant to counteract the optical illusion of the columns appearing too narrow (or convex) from a distance.

I have a passing familiarity with that and some of the other perspective tricks designed into Classical Greek architecture; those guys were pretty sharp, really. I've also seen recent articles and a documentary showing how the people doing conservation/restoration work on the Parthenon had to take such details into account, sometimes having to undo previous work done by those who hadn't.

Like the Greeks adding a visual element to enhance the appearance of strength, I think the curved pylons, rather than serving a functional purpose, are designed to, if subconsciously, give the appearance of strength by mimicking architectural forms. In this case, the curve of an arch.

So you're thinking that it's there more for aesthetic (and perhaps psychological) reasons than for strictly functional ones?

 

[superstring01]

Are you sure?

Take a look at my avatar. It's one of the frames. Looks head on to me.

When we see the Enterprise in your avatar, we are looking from slightly below the horizon from the bow side of the ship. Straight on, and the nacelles would be visible.

~String

 

[shipfisher]

With reference to any structural advantages the curved nacelle struts might have, we are dealing with an invented technology after all. From a "back-engineering" perspective, you can say that the load-bearing advantages of the arched struts are a visual clue to the way forces are applied to them in JJ's i-prise version of warp drive.

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

Like the Greeks adding a visual element to enhance the appearance of strength, I think the curved pylons, rather than serving a functional purpose, are designed to, if subconsciously, give the appearance of strength by mimicking architectural forms. In this case, the curve of an arch.

I think it's possible that even Ryan Church subconciously gave that "upside-down arch" proportions that are similar to classic roman pointed arches.

The romans didn't "invent" those visual pleasing proportions, but rather they used those proportions because they are inherently visually pleasing. It's a chicken-and-the-egg issue.

I think Ryans Church's designed an arch-shape that had visually pleaseing proportions, and that arch happened to look like a roman pointed arch because those Roman designers also used visually pleasing propportions.

 

[Arlo]

Like the Greeks adding a visual element to enhance the appearance of strength, I think the curved pylons, rather than serving a functional purpose, are designed to, if subconsciously, give the appearance of strength by mimicking architectural forms. In this case, the curve of an arch.

I think it's possible that even Ryan Church subconciously gave that "upside-down arch" proportions that are similar to classic roman pointed arches.

The romans didn't "invent" those visual pleasing proportions, but rather they used those proportions because they are inherently visually pleasing. It's a chicken-and-the-egg issue.

I think Ryans Church's designed an arch-shape that had visually pleaseing proportions, and that arch happened to look like a roman pointed arch because those Roman designers also used visually pleasing propportions.

The "pointed" arch is Islamic in origin, not Roman. It was later improved upon by the English and French in Gothic architecture. Italy has some Gothic examples, but for the most part stuck to its Romanesque tradition.

Jesus, when did this thread turn into an art history lecture?

 

[DaveyNY]

Like the Greeks adding a visual element to enhance the appearance of strength, I think the curved pylons, rather than serving a functional purpose, are designed to, if subconsciously, give the appearance of strength by mimicking architectural forms. In this case, the curve of an arch.

I think it's possible that even Ryan Church subconsciously gave that "upside-down arch" proportions that are similar to classic roman pointed arches.

The romans didn't "invent" those visual pleasing proportions, but rather they used those proportions because they are inherently visually pleasing. It's a chicken-and-the-egg issue.

I think Ryans Church's designed an arch-shape that had visually pleasing proportions, and that arch happened to look like a roman pointed arch because those Roman designers also used visually pleasing proportions.

The "pointed" arch is Islamic in origin, not Roman. It was later improved upon by the English and French in Gothic architecture. Italy has some Gothic examples, but for the most part stuck to its Romanesque tradition.

Jesus, when did this thread turn into an art history lecture?

Or a conversation about Phallic Imagery??

 

[RoJoHen]

Like the Greeks adding a visual element to enhance the appearance of strength, I think the curved pylons, rather than serving a functional purpose, are designed to, if subconsciously, give the appearance of strength by mimicking architectural forms. In this case, the curve of an arch.

I think it's possible that even Ryan Church subconciously gave that "upside-down arch" proportions that are similar to classic roman pointed arches.

The romans didn't "invent" those visual pleasing proportions, but rather they used those proportions because they are inherently visually pleasing. It's a chicken-and-the-egg issue.

I think Ryans Church's designed an arch-shape that had visually pleaseing proportions, and that arch happened to look like a roman pointed arch because those Roman designers also used visually pleasing propportions.

The "pointed" arch is Islamic in origin, not Roman. It was later improved upon by the English and French in Gothic architecture. Italy has some Gothic examples, but for the most part stuck to its Romanesque tradition.

Jesus, when did this thread turn into an art history lecture?

Let's start talking about Corinthian Columns!

 

[M'Sharak]

Jesus, when did this thread turn into an art history lecture?

A funny thing happened on the way to the nacelle struts...

 

[HRHTheKING]

They look OK.

The Refit-Connie had the best nacelle pylons/struts.

Made the back of the ship look sleeker and sharper.