> Rest assured that any completed design will be tested at 
> 3X of
> maximum load and I will definitely apply side loading of 
> 500 lbs to
> verify the design is stable.  Of course all the testing 
> will be
> conducted while I lay under the beams and look for signs 
> of failure. **

It's some folks preferred style.

The under-construction West Gate bridge in Melbourne 
Australia failed exceedingly catastrophically in October 
1970 while a top engineering team including at least one of 
the partners from the design company was inside a box girder 
attempting to both identify the reasons for the buckling 
that was occurring AND to remedy it by having various bolts 
removed to alter the stress distributions. They died. I have 
an extensive report on it here somewhere (perhaps paper 
AFAIR - may have come from an uncle who worked on large 
bridges). Gargoyle also should know.


        Russell
 

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