The Tacoma Narrows bridge "Galloping Gertie" http://www.ketchum.org/bridgecollapse.html is probably the most famous, the traffic loading or strong winds had nothing to do with it. Just a moderate wind in right direction, the right shape, and harmonics. This was 1940 1964 Univ. of Mich. as part of a senior level structural engineering class I reported on the Quebec bridge, started 3 times before it lasted, and still in use today. The 2nd collapse - the cantilever end amplitude was 6 feet after the center span load came loose. Bridge opened 1917. http://www.google.com/search?q=quebec+bridge&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a (address might get wrapped, should be one line) Alan B. Pearce wrote: >>> Picture of the railway bridge I am thinking of here >>> http://trains.wellington.net.nz/misc2/south_rangitikei_1985.jpg >>> >> Is that the one that fell down fatally during construction >> the first time ? >> >> Maybe that was Mangaweka. >> > > Hmm, don't remember that. > > >> AFAIR from long ago, the one mentioned has a maximum design >> side sway of 5 metres at the top during a quake. Now THAT >> would be an interesting train ride. >> > > I don't think one would not be worrying about how interesting it would be - > one would probably require a change of trousers ... Guess that makes it 10 > metres wide at the top, so 5 metres would still (just) allow the CoG to > still be between the feet. > > The other bridge I remember is the Symonds St vehicle bridge in Auckland, > over the south motorway. It is flexibly mounted in such a manner that it > resonates with a bus engine at idle. With a set of traffic lights at both > ends, it can be un-nerving to be sitting at a red light and have a bus pull > up beside you in the bus lane, and suddenly have the car bouncing vertically > with the combined movement of the bridge and car suspension giving the car > body an oscillation that feels like about 3" of vertical movement. > > > > -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist