What lesson was learned from the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge?

“Blind spot” – Design lessons of Gertie’s failure. At the time the 1940 Narrows Bridge failed, the small community of suspension bridge engineers believed that lighter and narrower bridges were theoretically and functionally sound.

What was the main problem with the Tacoma Narrows Bridge?

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed primarily due to the aeroelastic flutter. In ordinary bridge design, the wind is allowed to pass through the structure by incorporating trusses. In contrast, in the case of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, it was forced to move above and below the structure, leading to flow separation.

Why did the Tacoma Narrows Bridge Fail?

The collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was driven by wind-generated vortices that reinforced the twisting motion of the bridge deck until it failed.

Why did the Galloping Gertie collapse?

Historically, the name “Tacoma Narrows Bridge” has applied to the original bridge nicknamed “Galloping Gertie”, which opened in July 1940, but collapsed because of aeroelastic flutter four months later, as well as the replacement of the original bridge which opened in 1950 and still stands today as the westbound lanes …

What year did the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse?

September 1938
Tacoma Narrows Bridge/Construction started

Where did the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse?

Puget Sound
The 1940 Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge, was a suspension bridge in the U.S. state of Washington that spanned the Tacoma Narrows strait of Puget Sound between Tacoma and the Kitsap Peninsula….Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1940)

Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Collapsed November 7, 1940
Location
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap

How deep is the water under the Tacoma Narrows Bridge?

200 feet deep
The Tacoma Narrows is a difficult place to build a bridge. The water is over 200 feet deep. Swift, treacherous tides moving at over 8.5 miles per hour (12.5 feet per second) sweep through the channel four times a day.

How much does it cost to go over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge?

Currently, crossing the bridge in a car or another two-axle vehicle costs $5 with a Good to Go! pass or $6 cash at the tollbooth.

Did the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse because of resonance?

[+] The collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge on the morning of November 7, 1940, is the most iconic example of a spectacular bridge failure in modern times. Just four months later, under the right wind conditions, the bridge was driven at its resonant frequency, causing it to oscillate and twist uncontrollably.

Is the Tacoma Narrows Bridge paid off?

Construction began in 2002, and the new bridge opened in 2007. Learn about Tacoma Narrows Bridge history. Tolling will continue as long as the bonds which financed the new bridge are being paid off, which is planned to end in 2032.