Figure 4. Experiment E1. The intrinsic curvature of the system with and without ventral bracing elements was determined. The chain beam was fixed at the pivot board and si was determined under its own weight and with the insertion of intersegmental blocks. 4.1. The chain beam without any bracing structures hangs vertically down in its basal joint. 4.2. The inserting of intersegmental wedges (marked in red) between the segments of the chain beam yields the intrinsic curvature siE1 = 265 mm aboveground.