As a construction auxiliary tool, the history of scaffolding can be traced back to ancient times, and it has been continuously evolving and innovating in modern architecture. The following are the key nodes of the origin and development of scaffolding:
The origin of ancient scaffolding
Scaffolding is not a modern invention, and its history can be traced back to the Warring States Period. Ancient scaffolding was all made of wood, and the poles were also made of wood, and the level of erection was not lower than modern technology. Scaffolding was used when building earthen walls and city walls in the Warring States Period. Ancient Chinese buildings, including ancient towers and city walls, were all constructed with scaffolding. Traces of ancient scaffolding can be seen in the ancient city walls of Henan. The holes for scaffolding poles are still preserved in the wall, and the relics of wooden poles are stored in the holes.
The prototype of modern scaffolding
In the early 1950s, the United States successfully developed the portal scaffolding for the first time. It was quickly promoted due to its simple installation and disassembly, convenient movement, and good load-bearing performance. In the early 1960s, European countries also introduced and developed portal scaffolding, and developed portal scaffolding systems that are basically similar to the portal scaffolding structure.
Theoretical support and practical basis
In 1976, Wood, Bruner, and Ross borrowed the concept of scaffolding from architecture to describe how children can complete complex tasks beyond their independent capabilities with the help of more knowledgeable people. This concept is supported by Vygotsky’s theory of the zone of proximal development and traditional apprenticeship research.
Development and application of new scaffolding
Since the 1980s, China has introduced various types of scaffolding such as door scaffolding and cup-hook scaffolding from abroad. Since the 1990s, some domestic enterprises have introduced foreign technology and developed a variety of new scaffolding, such as latch scaffolding, CRAB module scaffolding, disc scaffolding, etc. The disc-hook scaffolding originated in the 1990s and was first used in construction sites in Guangdong, my country, and later gradually promoted and popularized.
Unique advantages of the disc-type scaffolding
The disc-type scaffolding uses low-alloy steel, which has a deformation resistance that is 1.4 times that of carbon structural steel and is more corrosion-resistant. Its load-bearing capacity is three times that of traditional fastener-type scaffolding, with higher stability and relatively low overall cost.
Summary
Scaffolding has developed from ancient wooden structures to modern steel structures, and has undergone many technological innovations and theoretical support. Its origin can be traced back to the Warring States Period, while the development of modern scaffolding began in the 1950s and has been widely used and continuously innovated around the world.
