Site of the Day for Wednesday, February 3, 2016
The Strangest, Most Spectacular Bridge Collapse (And How We Got It
Wrong)
Today's site, from the web publication Motherboard, offers a riveting account
of one of the most shocking bridge collapses in modern times -- the Tacoma
Narrows Bridge. Gentle Subscribers will find an exceptional report of the
science behind this structural disaster, complete with vivid archival films and
images.
"November 7, 1940, ... the world's third longest bridge ... bounced and
twisted.. in a gale. ... something was very wrong and with each wave of steel
and concrete, it seemed to be getting wronger ... "- from the website
This story of the famous bridge collapse, a bridge christened "Galloping
Gertie" by the locals, provides a review of the scientific explanations of the
event. With diagrams, engineering drawings, and design details, the article
recounts the various hypotheses as to the bridge's failure, as well as
disputing the traditional theory that oscillation at significant amplitudes and
frequencies were responsible for its collapse. Dramatic video footage and
photographs of the bridge's destruction highlight the narrative.
Wheel over to the site for the fascinating tale of one of the most famous
bridge failures at:
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-myth-of-galloping-gertie
A.M. Holm
Comments? Suggestions? amholm@xxxxxxxxxxx
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