Learning from Structural "Failures"
The concept of failure is central to understanding engineering, it has as its first and foremost objective the obviation of failure. Design, even structural design, is a human endeavour and thus is subject to error. Due to this, some designs are destined to fail. This can lead to a loss of life which itself is tragic, but a deeper unforgivable tragedy exists when the lessons of failure are understood and allowed to occur again.
Not all structural "failures" are catastrophic or incur fatalities and it is vital that the information they provide is acknowledged and passed on to others. Some events, such as the collapse of the Tay Bridge (1879) due to wind loading for which it was not designed, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1940) that was destroyed by wind induced vibration and the Ronan Point Tower Block (1968) that partially collapsed due to lack of robustness, encourage official intervention and revisions to codes. Others, such as the well-publicised Millennium Bridge in London (2000), have shown that in some instances the only way that mistakes are not repeated is through communication between engineers.
For further information please contact Ben Cresswell Riol.
Current papers:
Alkali Silica Reaction in Concrete.
D. K. Doran
Steel Box Girder Bridges.
A. R. Flint
The Collapse of the Ramsgate Walkway.
J. C. Chapman
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