The Tacoma Narrows Bridge
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.....The Tacoma Narrows Bridge, nicknamed "Galloping Gertie" by those who had the pleasure of crossing it, is one of the most commonly studied bridges by physics and engineering students. This bridge, which collapsed dramatically only four months after it was opened to traffic, was one of the few bridges to so violently experience the effects of nature upon a manmade structure. From its collapse, engineers and physicists learned not only how to build a better version the second time around, but learned enough about aerodynamics and resonance to apply the structural principles to many other projects.
.....Whereas in most cases bridges fail due to overuse and lack of proper maintenance, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was flawed from the design phase. The designers knew about the intense wind conditions in the Tacoma Narrows (where the bridge would cross), but had not anticipated that the mass of the bridge alone would not suffice in fighting such a strong natural element. As it turns out, the bulk of the bridge was one of the most critical factors of its demise.
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