E-ELT – European Extremely Large Telescope (Chile)

Dome e Main Structure

The E-ELT (European Extremely Large Telescope), designed by ESO (European Southern Observatory), foresees the construction of the biggest ground based telescope in the desert of Atacama, in Chile.
The diameter of the main mirror and the foundation elements of the structure are respectively 39 and 50 meters wide. Understanding well the structure of the rock substrate foundation is essential, taking into account that the telescope bears max sub-millimeters differential settlements. The substrate is strongly deformed due to the presence of cataclastic faults that have caused locally, in a strong seismic area, an intense and heterogeneous fragmentation and highly variable geotechnical and geomechanical conditions.