FIU had grand plans for 'signature' bridge. But the design had a key mistake

Post by hueving » Fri, Jun 15, 2018, 1:49 AM UTC

ndespres wrote: post #19

> And in order to pull off the aesthetic, the bridge's designers had to make the diagonal supports beneath them a variety of different shapes and sizes. That complication may have led the designers to miss a crucial error, independent engineers who've examined the bridge's plans believe: One of the supports was not strong enough. They aren't joking about the "variety of different shapes and sizes" for the diagonal su…

Post by carapace » Fri, Jun 15, 2018, 1:51 AM UTC

otakucode wrote: post #13

ams6110 wrote: post #7

There are some parallels with software. Encryption for example. Don't deviate from standard implementations unless you really know what you're doing. And even then, review it and review it again. Preferably by a separate expert.

The parallels do not go very far, unfortunately. When software fails, and kills people, it is rarely investigated. It's development is rarely investigated. When that is done, however, the differences widen even further. There is no degree to which software development can be done incompetently that criminal negligence charges can succeed. We saw this proven within the past decade when some of Toyotas cars engaged in…

Post by mannykannot » Fri, Jun 15, 2018, 1:55 AM UTC

mygo wrote: post #39

peterwwillis wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This isn't the only example of that. Imitating an archaic form of architecture is often a homage. Go to some modern temples/shrines in Japan. Check out the torii gates and any other classical looking structure. Compare the ones in wood to the ones in stone or concrete. They look identical. If you look close, you'll notice the little details sticking out of parts of the design. It's almost always a part of Japanese wo…

Is the goal to make beautiful structures, or is it to make beautiful structures as if they still have the characteristics of wood? I’m inclined to believe that, if the original masterful wood-crafters had instead began their professions with stone, that they would have created beautiful structures that fully explored the capabilities of stone, and that their contributions to architecture may have looked a little diff…

Post by ohazi » Fri, Jun 15, 2018, 1:57 AM UTC

6nf wrote: post #56

beachy wrote: post #3

> But FIU's bridge was designed to mimic the dramatic look of a cable-stayed bridge, where the deck is suspended from cables fanning out from a tall mast. In FIGG's design, though, the "cables" — actually metal pipes — were mostly just for show. The diagonal, v-shaped struts of the truss did the structural work. I've always found it useful to hone in on anything that is done purely for aesthetic reasons. We build a h…

Dan Gelbart on design: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtxA20Q-Uss&feature=youtu.be... 'If something is 100% functional, it's always beautiful'

Post by echotango » Fri, Jun 15, 2018, 1:59 AM UTC

mygo wrote: post #39

peterwwillis wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This isn't the only example of that. Imitating an archaic form of architecture is often a homage. Go to some modern temples/shrines in Japan. Check out the torii gates and any other classical looking structure. Compare the ones in wood to the ones in stone or concrete. They look identical. If you look close, you'll notice the little details sticking out of parts of the design. It's almost always a part of Japanese wo…

Is the goal to make beautiful structures, or is it to make beautiful structures as if they still have the characteristics of wood? I’m inclined to believe that, if the original masterful wood-crafters had instead began their professions with stone, that they would have created beautiful structures that fully explored the capabilities of stone, and that their contributions to architecture may have looked a little diff…