Listening to the Structure—Signs of Impending Collapse
Publication: Forensic Engineering 2022
ABSTRACT
Structures often give warnings of impending collapse. It is important to listen to the warnings and act accordingly. Examples include the Quebec Bridge collapse of 1907, the Hartford Civic Center collapse of 1978, the Laval, Quebec, de la Concorde overpass bridge collapse of 2006, the Florida International University pedestrian bridge collapse of 2018, and others. In each case, there was a time lag between clear indications of failure and the failure itself. This suggests, unfortunately, that there is a key gap in engineering practice. The warnings that the structure gives us may not be recognized for what they are. It may not be clear how and to whom to report the warnings. Lastly, it may not be clear how to act, who is to make the decision, and how to warn the public and reduce risk. Therefore, there is a need to develop ways to report these warnings and turn them into action in order to protect the safety of the public and construction workers.
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Forensic Engineering 2022
Pages: 870 - 878
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Published online: Nov 2, 2022
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