Understanding bridge collapses / [edited by] Björn Åkesson.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Åkesson, B. (Björn)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bridge failures.

Physical Description:

xiv, 266 pages : illustrations, maps ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Taylor & Francis, [2008]

Summary:

As widely known, much of the knowledge of today is often based on the failures of the past. Just like in the last century, structural engineers still learn immensely from studying historical failures of structures, such as bridges. In addition, when studying real bridge failures, both the theory and the related phenomenon are supported by what has happened in practice, which positively affects the acceptation and visualization of the mathematical theories by the engineer. Richly illustrated and in a straightforward style, the author has provided a detailed overview of 20 cases of famous and other highly interesting bridge collapses over the last two centuries. Every case is illustrated and described in detail and the failure analyses made are supported by well-known explanations and, in some cases, by new theories. The chronological order makes it easy to follow the gradual development in the use of different bridge types and the choice of construction material. The increase of knowledge and experience in the structural engineering discipline over the years is clearly observable, although every modern engineer will admit that both fatigue and buckling are very complex phenomena and that knowledge about them can increasingly profit from studying past bridge construction projects failures.

This book is intended for consulting engineers (bridges, steel and metal structures) and for advanced-level and postgraduate students in structural and bridge engineering. Because of its systematic and visual character it may also form a good introduction to bridge failures and the understanding of complex structures to undergraduate students in civil and mechanical engineering.

Contents:

1 Dee Bridge (1847) 1

2 Ashtabula Bridge (1876) 17

3 Tay Bridge (1879) 33

4 Quebec Bridge (1907) 53

5 Hasselt Bridge (1938) 79

6 Sando Bridge (1939) 89

7 Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1940) 97

8 Peace River Bridge (1957) 115

9 Second Narrows Bridge (1958) 123

10 Kings Bridge (1962) 129

11 Point Pleasant Bridge (1967) 139

12 Fourth Danube Bridge (1969) 149

13 Britannia Bridge (1970) 155

14 Cleddau Bridge (1970) 171

15 West Gate Bridge (1970) 179

16 Rhine Bridge (1971) 193

17 Zeulenroda Bridge (1973) 201

18 Reichsbrucke (1976) 213

19 Almo Bridge (1980) 223

20 Sgt. Aubrey Cosens VC Memorial Bridge (2003) 235.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [257]-261) and index.

ISBN:

0415436230

0203895428

9780415436236

9780203895429

OCLC:

213375887