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Romanian professor
Born, few years before the Unification of the Principalities, in 1853, Elie Radu saw daylight in Botoşani, a small town in northern Moldova. He attended secondary school in his hometown and then the “Mihăileana” Academy of Science - here is colleague with the great chemist and promoter of science, C.I. Istrati.
After graduation, he went to Brussels, where he attends Polytechnic School (1872-1877). Returning home, we was professor at the School of Conductors (1894-1903), then professor of building (the first national course) at the National School of Bridges and Roads in the capital, where, later, teaches course "General methods of construction".
Young engineer Radu, controlled, along with Anghel Saligny, the execution of railway Predeal Ploiesti: initiated in 1878, but finished much later. He contributed directly to numerous achievements (railways) such as Pitesti, Arges, Tirgu Ocna-Comanesti-Palanca, Galati Bîrlad, lines that included high-tech engineering works, as viaducts, bridges, tunnels, etc.
He studied, designed and built no less than 475 km of railways and studied and designed 175 km of tracks made by other engineers - a vital part of the Romanian railway network.
His studies permitted the introduction of a new type of heavy rail, which provides enhanced security and fast movement.
He executed numerous bridges: over Olt (in Slatina), over Jiu (in Craiova), over Siret (eight bridges), also water towers and reservoirs with great capacity.
Elie Radu conducted important works for town facilities. In his studies on water supply of cities of the country, has introduced original concepts and solutions, regarding, first, turning underground sources (which leads to a significantly lower cost price - about one third - from the one proposed by foreign competition), also in water filtration.
For the construction of Bucharest water supply system, Bragadiru, in 1901, he achieved the highest capture of groundwater in central Europe, it produced 30,000 m3/day from a single source. In 1904 it reached the flow of 200 liters of water day/man, which was a top value of most European cities.
At Bucharest it is preserved what techniques people call "beam Elie Radu", true technical monument, built at the beginning of the century by the great engineer. Made of concrete, based on rigorous calculations, the beam with an opening of 8 meters, successfully resisted a considerable load of sandbags, demonstrating the virtues of reinforced concrete, at a time when the characteristics (especially resistance etc.) were challenged. Later, under his direction, were made the first concrete floors in Romania and several other excellent designed and executed works.
In a moment of crisis of reinforced concrete, when large construction collapsed in Europe in this material, Elie Radu understood and demonstrated that it is due only to the design and calculation disabilities. He continued, with courage, the construction of this type promotion, of couse, properly designed and made. As Chairman of the Technical Education (1919-1930), he endorsed and contributed to the improvement of thousands of construction projects, correcting irrational solutions. In 1927, he was elected honorary member of the Romanian Academy. Elie Radu is a luminous figure of the beginning of construction engineering in our country. A man of competence, firm and balanced, always in fighting negligence.
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variant spelling:
Elie, Radu
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Curriculum vitae
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* 1853
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Botosani Romania
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born
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1872 - 1877
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Bruxelles
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1894 - 1903
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Bucuresti
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1904
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Bucuresti
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1927
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Bucuresti
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† 1931
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Bucuresti
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died
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