A lintel or lintol is a type of beam (a horizontal structural element) that spans openings such as portals, doors, windows and fireplaces. It can be a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented structural item. In the case of windows, the bottom span is instead referred to as a sill, but, unlike a lintel, does not serve to bear a load to ensure the integrity of the wall. Modern day lintels are made using prestressed concrete and are also referred to as beams in beam and block slabs or ribs in rib and block slabs. These prestressed concrete lintels and blocks are components that are packed together and propped to form a suspended floor concrete slab.
In worldwide architecture of different eras and many cultures, a lintel has been an element of post and lintel construction. Many different building materials have been used for lintels.[1]
In classical Western architecture and construction methods, by Merriam-Webster definition, a lintel is a load-bearing member and is placed over an entranceway.[1] Called an architrave, the lintel is a structural element that is usually rested on stone pillars or stacked stone columns, over a portal or entranceway. An example from the Mycenaean Greece cultural period (c. 1600 – 1100 BCE) is the Treasury of Atreus in Mycenae, Greece. It weighs 120 tons, with approximate dimensions 8.3 × 5.2 × 1.2 m,[2] one of the largest in the world.
A lintel may support the chimney above a fireplace, or span the distance of a path or road, forming a stone lintel bridge.
The use of the lintel form as a decorative building element over portals, with no structural function, has been employed in the architectural traditions and styles of most cultures over the centuries.
Examples of the ornamental use of lintels are in the hypostyle halls and slab stelas in ancient Egypt and the Indian rock-cut architecture of Buddhist temples in caves. Preceding prehistoric and subsequent Indian Buddhist temples were wooden buildings with structural load-bearing wood lintels across openings. The rock-cut excavated cave temples were more durable, and the non-load-bearing carved stone lintels allowed creative ornamental uses of classical Buddhist elements. Highly skilled artisans were able to simulate the look of wood, imitating the nuances of a wooden structure and the wood grain in excavating cave temples from monolithic rock.[3] In freestanding Indian building examples, the Hoysala architecture tradition between the 11th and 14th centuries produced many elaborately carved non-structural stone lintels in the Southern Deccan Plateau region of southern India. The Hoysala Empire era was an important period in the development of art and architecture in the South Indian Kannadiga culture. It is remembered today primarily for its Hindu temples' mandapa, lintels, and other architectural elements, such as at the Chennakesava Temple.
The Maya civilization in the Americas was known for its sophisticated art and monumental architecture. The Mayan city of Yaxchilan, on the Usumacinta River in present-day southern Mexico, specialized in the stone carving of ornamental lintel elements within structural stone lintels.[4] The earliest carved lintels were created in 723 CE. At the Yaxchilan archaeological site there are fifty-eight lintels with decorative pieces spanning the doorways of major structures. Among the finest Mayan carving to be excavated are three temple door lintels that feature narrative scenes of a queen celebrating the king's anointing by a god.[5]
Radiation protection
Lintels may also be used to reduce scattered radiation in medical applications. For example, Medical linacs operating at high energies will produce activated neutrons which will be scattered outside the treatment bunker maze with a dose rate that depends on the maze cross section. Lintels may be visible or recessed in the roof of the facility, and reduce dose rate in publicly accessible areas by reducing the maze cross section. [6]
^ ab"Glossary of Medieval Art and Architecture - Lintel". University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
^Dodwell, Edward (1819). A Classical and Topographical Tour Through Greece: During the Years. Rodwelland Martin.
^Keay, John (2000). India: A History. New York: Grove Press. pp. 124–127. ISBN978-0-8021-3797-5.
^"Mexico's Yaxchilan Ruin". Mayan Ruins. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
^Simon Martin; Nikolai Grube (2000). Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd. pp. 117, 125. ISBN978-0-500-05103-0.
^Morgan, Helen (2006). "NCRP Report 151 Structural shielding design and evaluation for megavoltage x-and gamma-ray radiotherapy facilities". Journal of Radiological Protection. 26 (3): 349. doi:10.1088/0952-4746/26/3/B01.
January 26, 2023
lintel, lintel, lintol, type, beam, horizontal, structural, element, that, spans, openings, such, portals, doors, windows, fireplaces, decorative, architectural, element, combined, ornamented, structural, item, case, windows, bottom, span, instead, referred, s. A lintel or lintol is a type of beam a horizontal structural element that spans openings such as portals doors windows and fireplaces It can be a decorative architectural element or a combined ornamented structural item In the case of windows the bottom span is instead referred to as a sill but unlike a lintel does not serve to bear a load to ensure the integrity of the wall Modern day lintels are made using prestressed concrete and are also referred to as beams in beam and block slabs or ribs in rib and block slabs These prestressed concrete lintels and blocks are components that are packed together and propped to form a suspended floor concrete slab Structural lintel Lintel above a door from Paris Contents 1 Structural uses 2 Ornamental uses 3 Radiation protection 4 Types 4 1 Decoration 4 2 Structure 5 Gallery 6 See also 7 NotesStructural uses EditIn worldwide architecture of different eras and many cultures a lintel has been an element of post and lintel construction Many different building materials have been used for lintels 1 In classical Western architecture and construction methods by Merriam Webster definition a lintel is a load bearing member and is placed over an entranceway 1 Called an architrave the lintel is a structural element that is usually rested on stone pillars or stacked stone columns over a portal or entranceway An example from the Mycenaean Greece cultural period c 1600 1100 BCE is the Treasury of Atreus in Mycenae Greece It weighs 120 tons with approximate dimensions 8 3 5 2 1 2 m 2 one of the largest in the world A lintel may support the chimney above a fireplace or span the distance of a path or road forming a stone lintel bridge Ornamental carved lintel over Mandapa entrance at Chennakesava Temple in the Hoysala architecture tradition of southern IndiaOrnamental uses Edit Ornamental Chinese lintel at Zhan Yuan The use of the lintel form as a decorative building element over portals with no structural function has been employed in the architectural traditions and styles of most cultures over the centuries Examples of the ornamental use of lintels are in the hypostyle halls and slab stelas in ancient Egypt and the Indian rock cut architecture of Buddhist temples in caves Preceding prehistoric and subsequent Indian Buddhist temples were wooden buildings with structural load bearing wood lintels across openings The rock cut excavated cave temples were more durable and the non load bearing carved stone lintels allowed creative ornamental uses of classical Buddhist elements Highly skilled artisans were able to simulate the look of wood imitating the nuances of a wooden structure and the wood grain in excavating cave temples from monolithic rock 3 In freestanding Indian building examples the Hoysala architecture tradition between the 11th and 14th centuries produced many elaborately carved non structural stone lintels in the Southern Deccan Plateau region of southern India The Hoysala Empire era was an important period in the development of art and architecture in the South Indian Kannadiga culture It is remembered today primarily for its Hindu temples mandapa lintels and other architectural elements such as at the Chennakesava Temple The Maya civilization in the Americas was known for its sophisticated art and monumental architecture The Mayan city of Yaxchilan on the Usumacinta River in present day southern Mexico specialized in the stone carving of ornamental lintel elements within structural stone lintels 4 The earliest carved lintels were created in 723 CE At the Yaxchilan archaeological site there are fifty eight lintels with decorative pieces spanning the doorways of major structures Among the finest Mayan carving to be excavated are three temple door lintels that feature narrative scenes of a queen celebrating the king s anointing by a god 5 Radiation protection EditLintels may also be used to reduce scattered radiation in medical applications For example Medical linacs operating at high energies will produce activated neutrons which will be scattered outside the treatment bunker maze with a dose rate that depends on the maze cross section Lintels may be visible or recessed in the roof of the facility and reduce dose rate in publicly accessible areas by reducing the maze cross section 6 Types EditDecoration Edit Atalburu Basque decorative lintel Marriage stone decorative can be structural lintelStructure Edit Architrave structural lintel or beam resting on columns pillars Dolmen prehistoric megalithic tombs with structural stone lintels Dougong traditional Chinese structural element I beam steel lintels and beams Post and lintelGallery Edit Structural lintel over entrance Treasury of Atreus Mycenae Greece The lintel stone at the Treasury of Atreus external view The lintel stone at the Treasury of Atreus internal view Structural lintel over the entry to main Buddhist shrine Phimai historical park Thailand Shebna Inscription on a lintel of a tomb cave near Jerusalem 8th 7th century BCE Structural lintel with a lauburu and founders names above traditional Basque houses in Lower Navarre Spain Non structural Mayan ornamental lintel stone from the Yaxchilan city site in Chiapas southern Mexico Late Classic period 600 900 CE Non structural decorative lintel at Buddhist Banteay Srei in Cambodia Non structural lintel in Buddhist cave temple at Ellora Caves India Door lintel in Bozen Bolzano from 1632 with Elias Tagger s coat of arms South Tyrol Italy Non structural marriage stone lintel at The Hill farm Dunlop East Ayrshire Scotland One of many 16th century door lintels in Edinburgh s Old Town Simonsbath House Simonsbath Exmoor Parish Devon Wooden lintel over kitchen fireplace with carved date of 1654 Lintel above the entrance to Jagdschloss Grunewald Germany Lintel above a door from ParisSee also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to wbr Lintels and wbr Post and Beam Look up lintel in Wiktionary the free dictionary Span architecture Notes Edit a b Glossary of Medieval Art and Architecture Lintel University of Pittsburgh Retrieved 2007 06 25 Dodwell Edward 1819 A Classical and Topographical Tour Through Greece During the Years Rodwelland Martin Keay John 2000 India A History New York Grove Press pp 124 127 ISBN 978 0 8021 3797 5 Mexico s Yaxchilan Ruin Mayan Ruins Retrieved 24 November 2020 Simon Martin Nikolai Grube 2000 Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens London Thames amp Hudson Ltd pp 117 125 ISBN 978 0 500 05103 0 Morgan Helen 2006 NCRP Report 151 Structural shielding design and evaluation for megavoltage x and gamma ray radiotherapy facilities Journal of Radiological Protection 26 3 349 doi 10 1088 0952 4746 26 3 B01 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lintel amp oldid 1116905316, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
