31–40 of 75 posts
I frequently cross the Golden Gate bridge. This is my nightmare. Can you imagine plunging to your doom if that bridge failed? Yikes!
> head of the Centre for Wood Science ..., identified steel truss issues as a possible factor. You don't say...
I think a fairly good argument can be made that the design of this bridge was novel to the point of being negligent as per https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSPI0xkTifI
Damn, this is a really high quality, high effort video, with a lot of nice pictures. Thanks for posting.
The homepage of the "Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority" is much more informative and the 2 documents have interesting photos, e.g. closeups of where the wood broke. https://www.nsia.no/Road/Investigations/22-441 It does not state why they conclude the cause was overload, only that "Uncovering the technical causal factors for the collapse of the Tretten bridge has been challenging. The expert group has worked i…
There are a number of bridges where I live that cannot handle a truck with trailer. They have large signs warning what the maximum load is. They are mostly on rarely used roads in farm country (as in a handful of cars per week cross), so a truck with lime is one of the more likely potential loads, but of course the local farmers know that bridge can't handle the weight of a truck and plan their deliveries to take a d…
Are these bridges you are referring to from your area really old and poorly maintained bridges?
He did a an episode on this bridge. It is excellent, and it provides some context about other timber bridges that is not discussed in this article.
I frequently cross the Golden Gate bridge. This is my nightmare. Can you imagine plunging to your doom if that bridge failed? Yikes!
The Goldstar memorial bridge over the Thames river in Connecticut is the same type as that I-35W bridge that failed in Minneapolis (only Goldstar is older and higher). I worry every time I cross it.. https://bridgehunter.com/ct/new-london/3819/
I think a fairly good argument can be made that the design of this bridge was novel to the point of being negligent as per https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSPI0xkTifI
I thought you linked to B1M or something.
I think a fairly good argument can be made that the design of this bridge was novel to the point of being negligent as per https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSPI0xkTifI
I can’t get really past the guy’s attitude. From the get go he’s mocking the work from the marketing to materials, and he’s not doing it in a fun way. Just plain denigrating. I thought you linked to B1M or something.
The homepage of the "Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority" is much more informative and the 2 documents have interesting photos, e.g. closeups of where the wood broke. https://www.nsia.no/Road/Investigations/22-441 It does not state why they conclude the cause was overload, only that "Uncovering the technical causal factors for the collapse of the Tretten bridge has been challenging. The expert group has worked i…
> Personally I would think that a bridge should be able to handle "A passenger car and a truck with trailer loaded with lime were on the bridge when it collapsed". The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority seems to agree. https://www.nsia.no/Road/Investigations/22-441?iid=35881&pid... : “Checked according to the recommended calculation methods in today's current regulations for the design of wooden structures, the…
Most sophisticated structures are engineered using load factors in combination rather than traditional strength design methods because it leads to more efficient use of materials and hence lower cost.
Yes, strength design might require a 4x safety factor. That’s why engineering practice employs statistical methods and combined loads.
Keep in mind that the safety factors are never supposed to be the difference between stability and failure. If the structure relies on safety factors there’s a problem.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The Goldstar memorial bridge over the Thames river in Connecticut is the same type as that I-35W bridge that failed in Minneapolis (only Goldstar is older and higher). I worry every time I cross it.. https://bridgehunter.com/ct/new-london/3819/
You might be interested to know that the term for avoiding bridges is gephyrophobia.