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Originally posted by MichaelC
More at Tulsa World
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Time capsule aficionados learned some things from Tulsa's buried Belvedere experience.
They learned that water is not their friend.
They learned that steel is more waterproof than concrete.
As everyone now knows, the concrete vault containing the 1957 Plymouth Belvedere let water in but didn't let it out. The result was a very badly damaged automobile when the vault was unearthed from the Tulsa County Courthouse lawn this summer.
I hope they're putting this steel capsule, inside a concrete capsule. Soil contact can be fairly corrosive.
Thank you for pointing this out, I know it's a concern for everyone.
This is something everyone involved with the project is keenly aware of. The capsule is being epoxy-coated, but even that is no insurance against the soil.
As of now the final disposition of the outer vault is in the hands of the time capsule committee, the Parks Dept., and people in the Mayor's office.
William Franklin has provided multiple ideas and concepts for the aesthetics of the outer vault and has been a joy to work with.
The Park Board was presented these concepts at their October meeting and it was determined it was time to go back to the drawing board. Up to that time the engineering of the outer vault and donations of construction materials for that had been with the assumption of an above-grade installation. It was decided at that point to pass the final vault resolution until after November 10th.
It's going to take more engineering to place it below grade or partially below-grade.
For what it's worth, to this point all engineering, construction, and materials have been donated to this project, it has cost tax payers nothing. It's great to see various local businesses step up on a project like this.
At any rate, there will be no direct soil contact with the pressure vessel.