Tacoma Narrows Bridge Failure

[Rubycon]

Everyone has seen the original (albeit too short) B&W footage.

This still amazes no matter how many times you see it or talk about it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-zczJXSxnw

 

[nutxo]

yeh, seems like I hear about that like 10 times a year living here. Its amazing how many people Ive heard say that was the golden gate.

 

[Paratus]

Apparently it was caused by rolling vortexes of high and low pressure spawned by the shape of the bridge.

 

[Dominato3r]

Somewhat related, we just opened up a new 3.3B bridge here and the contractors forgot about the possibility of falling ice:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Mann_Bridge

 

[Orsorum]

The Pioneer commercial was better, heh. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_mccjAnCOk

 

[lxskllr]

Very cool video. It actually held up pretty well considering the amount it was moving.

 

[Broheim]

Very cool video. It actually held up pretty well considering the amount it was moving.

it's kind of amazing how something that seems so solid can flex so much.

 

[SKORPI0]

Apparently it was caused by rolling vortexes of high and low pressure spawned by the shape of the bridge.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge was brought down by aeroelastic flutter, not resonance

 

[Jodell88]

Apparently it was caused by rolling vortexes of high and low pressure spawned by the shape of the bridge.

It was a shitty design. I bet they never tried the same design anywhere else.

 

[Tim]

Can you imagine the noise that thing made during the event? Must have been insane to be there.

 

[CPA]

That professor walking off the bridge with his pipe in hand - Like A Boss!

 

[dmcowen674]

Everyone has seen the original (albeit too short) B&W footage.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-zczJXSxnw

Wow, thanks for the link to this long color version.

Didn't know it existed.

When I saw this as a young kid it made me realize then how everything man makes breaks.

 

[Doppel]

That professor walking off the bridge with his pipe in hand - Like A Boss!

Exactly!

 

[DrPizza]

Tacoma Narrows Bridge was brought down by aeroelastic flutter, not resonance

Amazingly, resonance is an integral part of understanding what aeroelastic flutter is. From wikipedia: "Flutter is a self-feeding and potentially destructive vibration where aerodynamic forces on an object couple with a structure's natural mode of vibration to produce rapid periodic motion." (aka, resonance.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroelasticity

 

[BrokenVisage]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_mccjAnCOk

Is this the footage Pioneer used to make their commercial?

 

[zinfamous]

That professor walking off the bridge with his pipe in hand - Like A Boss!

exactly what I was thinking.

 

[BoomerD]

There's now a double-span across the Tacoma Narrows...and there are "Extreme Wind" warning signs at both ends...

 

[nutxo]

It was a shitty design. I bet they never tried the same design anywhere else.

the design was fine. The builders messed up.

 

[CZroe]

Too bad Tubby died.

 

[iamwiz82]

exactly what I was thinking.

I am pretty sure he was bitten by the dog he was trying to rescue at that point. The dog was the only fatality.

 

[Rubycon]

Somewhat related, we just opened up a new 3.3B bridge here and the contractors forgot about the possibility of falling ice:





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Mann_Bridge

Ice falling from broadcast transmission tower guy wires is a real hazard too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfBp2QYOIbc

Very cool video. It actually held up pretty well considering the amount it was moving.

The light poles really show how much roll was occurring!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_mccjAnCOk

Is this the footage Pioneer used to make their commercial?

Yes, just sped up, Benny Hill style. :biggrin:

 

[bradley]

Now that is something. I only ever saw bits and pieces of black and white footage. Youtube is amazing at times!

 

[Harrod]

I saw this while looking at that video, pretty cool bridge washout. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyVIVHJ5RUA

 

[bradley]

I saw this while looking at that video, pretty cool bridge washout. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyVIVHJ5RUA

The Tacoma is iconic footage, but that's really cool too. Youtube strikes again.

 

[iamwiz82]

I saw this while looking at that video, pretty cool bridge washout. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyVIVHJ5RUA

There is no way in hell I would run to the vehicles and try to get them out of the way.