The Historic Collection of Models of Metal Bridges of the University of Padua

In the Department of Structural and Transportation Engineering of University of Padova, is a rich collection of didactic models of bridges and structural details. The main merit of this collection is due to Professor Pio Chicchi, at the end of 19th century. Pio Chicchi, engineer, followed the teaching of Gustavo Bucchia, and was professor of Bridges in wood, iron and masonry and of Roads, director of the Cabinet of Constructions of bridges and roads of the annexed Technical College for Engineers of the University of Padova, in the last decade of the 1800's, until its death, happened in 1898. The scientific activity of the Chicchi was characterized from a remarkable theoretical production and experiences. To remember in particular way the Corso teorico pratico di costruzione dei ponti metallici, the first complete text that can be considered on the iron bridges published in Italy. The first edition, to issues, exited from 1879 to 1881, while the second edition, a lot enriched, was published in 1886. Particularly interesting is the great collection of didactic models – wanted by Gustavo Bucchia and then followed by Chicchi from 1890 and continued by Luigi Vittorio Rossi from 1899. The models represent various structural typologies and details of metal bridges of the second half of 19th century and the beginning of 20th century. Each model built by Chicchi is described in detail in the Tables of the Atlante of Chicchi’s book Corso teorico pratico sulla costruzione dei ponti metallici. This collection of models - in wood and iron - was destined to illustrate to the students and to the engineers the constructive characteristics of the modern constructions of the greater metallic bridges, mostly for railway, realized in Europe and America. These models represent the evolution of metal truss structures, of piers, of joints and supports details.In particular there are model of: Wooden truss bridges, Cast iron arch bridges, Truss girder bridges, Truss arch bridges, Truss pier, Details of joints, Details of supports. Such a collection is still existing and is in good state of conservation. It constitutes one of the most complete collections of the sort in the world.