Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse Of 1940

[Weather-history]

Here's some film footage of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse in Washington state, USA. Nicknamed "Galloping Gertie", it was a spectacular engineering failure. On the 7th of November 1940, winds of 42mph, sent the main span into torsional oscillations which increased in amplitude until the main span collapsed.

The main bridge span exhibitied great flexibility in the 4 months it was opened to traffic before the collapse and this what gained its nickname "Galloping Gertie".

The bridge collapse marked a turning point in engineering and aerodynamics that were not understood at the time.

http://physics.kenyon.edu/coolphys/Frankli...ted/tacoma.html

[Kent Snow]

Thanks for that Mr Data.

I remember from my Uni degree in Aeronautical Engineering, us studying this event, but I've never seen this footage.

[Guest Sir Seany]

What a cock up that was, poor dog! I think its good that only a dog died because that means we can laugh at how funny it moved! The angles it got to was incredicble, and it looks more like its made out of liquorice than girders!

At my old school, there were two buildings, adn a bridge went over a main road connecting the two sites, that didnt half sway sometimes, not as bad as tacoma, but in a gales force wind it would have come down quite merry onto unsuspecting drivers! I remember that when there was no people on it, you could jump up and down and it would move B) that wasnt even a suspension bridge, might i add!!!

[Weather-history]

Can't believe how narrow that first Tacoma bridge was, only 39ft or 11.8m and that includes roadway and pavement on either side! <_< A cricket pitch is 22 yards long, wicket to wicket, meaning the bridge was justover half a cricket pitch in length!!! :o :o

Edited January 7, 2005 by Mr_Data

[Weather-history]

I don't know why but since I was a young lad, watching footage of this bridge's collapse has always fascinated me. :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxTZ446tbzE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0Fi1VcbpAI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHgQALH9-7M

Edited February 1, 2007 by Mr_Data