(BEIJING, Sept. 17) -- The uninstallation of the steel structure of the National Stadium, which has drawn wide domestic and international attention, was finished successfully at 11:10 am Sunday morning.

Lasting three days from 8 am on September 14 to 11:10 am on September 17, the uninstallation of the steel structure of the National Stadium was divided into seven steps, and each step was realized within five times.

Here are some basic figures about the uninstallation. The total weight of the uninstalled steels is 14,000 tons; 156 jacks were placed in 78 specific spots, and the uninstallation was implemented simultaneously on 3 levels, which are the outside-circle, middle-circle and the inside-circle. The pressure loads on the 78 jackspots vary from 320 tons to 120 tons. An automatic and simultaneous uninstallation method was adopted, with the Central Processing Unit of computers in control.

The National Stadium, the main stadium for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, is located on the north side of Beichen Bridge along the North 4th Ring Road. Up to date, its steel structure has already taken shape. The steel roof structure of the venue looks like two saddles, with curving on two sides. The south-north structural height is only 40 metres, while the east-west structural height is 69 metres. The axis span of the steel structure ranges from 333 metres to 298 metres. The main structure of the National Stadium constitutes two parts, namely the inside the concrete structure and the outside steel structure. The steel structure is composed of 24 columns of trusses which surround the bowl-shape stands in the stadium. Because all components of the steel structure support each other and form a netting out shape, the National Stadium is well-known as the "Bird's Nest."

The successful uninstallation of the steel structure of the National Stadium indicates that Chinese experts and builders have solved all difficulties in the construction of steel structures in this venue and that the work on the National Stadium has entered a new stage, with sufficient time left for the membrane structure installation and decoration.