Contenido Bridge Failures and Lessons .Learnt Future-proofing to prevent disasters

Around the world, bridge failures are occurring on an almost monthly basis. Bridge Failures and Lessons Learnt: Future-proofing to prevent disasters uses case studies from history, as well as more recent events, to analyse in detail the causes and consequences of these failures, shedding light on technological advancements and actionable steps to prevent such disasters in the future. Bridge collapses may be attributed to a relatively small number of causes, including errors either in design or construction, incorrect operation, poor maintenance and, especially with climate change upon us, environmental factors. It is usually due to a combination of these factors which leads to failure. In many cases, however, the detailed engineering reasons behind those collapses have not been widely shared so that bridge engineers can learn the lessons and to try to prevent similar recurrences. This principle of knowledge sharing has been fundamental to the development of engineering understanding for the last few centuries.

This book

    provides a detailed analysis of the more frequent causes of failures, using a selection of case studies from around the world
    focuses on future-proofing new and existing bridges, particularly in response to climate change
    highlights the opportunities offered by new technology, including the use of remote sensors, IoT, and AI.

Bridge Failures and Lessons Learnt is a much-needed reference for bridge managers, consultants, inspectors, and civil and structural engineers engaged in the design, construction, maintenance, and management of bridges both in the UK and overseas. It is also useful reading for consultants designing bridge repairs, inspectors, and asset owners.

INDEX

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
About the author

1  Introduction

1.1. Definitions
1.2. Failure
1.3. Design life expectancy
1.4. Context
1.5. Precursor events
1.6. Perfection to disaster
1.7. Economic consequences
1.8. Investigations and reporting
1.9. Ethical responsibilities
1.10. Conclusion

Part 1 – Bridge collapses – cause and effect

2  Historical collapses
2.1. From Rome to the Dark Ages to the Middle Ages
2.2. Nineteenth century – UK and Europe
2.3. Nineteenth century – North America
2.4. Nineteenth century – Japan and India
2.5. Conclusion

3  Causes of bridge failures

3.1. Causes
3.2. Errors in design
3.3. Overstretching of engineering understanding
3.4. Errors during construction
3.5. Poor maintenance and management
3.6. Unexpected material deficiency
3.7. Errors in operation
3.8. Environmental factors
3.9. Force majeure
3.10. Combinations
3.11. Conclusion

4  Investigations and knowledge sharing

4.1. Introduction
4.2. Best practice
4.3. Room for improvement – the UK
4.4. Other countries
4.5. A sense of proportion?
4.6. Timing
4.7. Conclusion

5 .  Historical case studies

5.1. Dee – 1847
5.2. Tay – 1879
5.3. Tacoma Narrows – 1940
5.4. Point Pleasant – 1967
5.5. Cleddau – 1970
5.6. West Gate – 1970
5.7. Sunshine Skyway – 1980
5.8. Ynys-y-gwâs – 1985
5.9. Conclusion

6  Twenty-first century case studies

6.1. De la Concorde overpass – 2006
6.2. I-35 W – 2007
6.3. Viadotto Polcevera – 2018
6.4. Nanfang’ao – 2019
6.5. Mexico City metro overpass – 2021
6.6. Morbi – 2022
6.7. Conclusion

Part 2 – Future-proofing

7  Understanding bridge condition

7.1. Ageing bridge stocks
7.2. Concrete bridges – post-war details
7.3. Steel bridges – post-war details
7.4. An ageing stock continues to age
7.5. Hidden and vulnerable details
7.6. Overview of the UK bridge stock
7.7. Back to the USA
7.8. Bridge management
7.9. Inspections
7.10. Assessments
7.11. Record keeping
7.12. Maintenance interventions
7.13. Close-call case studies
7.14. Conclusion

8  Understanding and managing risk

8.1. Basic theory
8.2. Management of substandard structures – background
8.3. Management of substandard structures – current UK practice
8.4. Risk in bridge design
8.5. Risk in bridge construction
8.6. Risk in bridge assessment
8.7. Risk in bridge inspection
8.8. Risk in bridge management
8.9. Risk case study 1: Francis Scott Key Bridge, Baltimore, USA
8.10. Risk case study 2: Florida International University footbridge, Miami, USA
8.11. Risk case study 3: Bridge 88, Stewarton, Scotland, UK
8.12. Risk case study 4: Menai Suspension Bridge, Wales, UK
8.13. Conclusion

9  Professional responsibility and ethics

9.1. A brief excursion into philosophy
9.2. Engineering judgement, ethics and education
9.3. Ethics and trust
9.4. Case studies from other engineering sectors and the built environment
9.5. Advice on ethical conduct
9.6. Ethical actions – whistleblowing
9.7. Ethical actions – confidential reporting
9.8. Ethical challenges – corruption
9.9. Ethical challenges – competence
9.10. An Archimedic oath?
9.11. Conclusion

10 Climate change implications

10.1. Background and context
10.2. What to expect
10.3. Rainfall
10.4. Temperature
10.5. Wind
10.6. Sea level rise
10.7. Humidity
10.8. Ice accretion
10.9. Sustainability and resilience
10.10. Future-proofing
10.11. Conclusion

11 The shape of things to come?

11.1. Health warning
11.2. Structural health monitoring (SHM) or structural performance monitoring (SPM)?
11.3. Structural health monitoring
11.4. Data gathering
11.5. Photogrammetry
11.6. LiDAR or laser scanning
11.7. Unmanned aerial vehicles
11.8. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning
11.9. Data management
11.10. Digital twins
11.11. The internet of things (IoT) and sensors
11.12. Satellites
11.13. Robotics
11.14. Conclusion

12   Summary and conclusions

12.1. Collapses and causes
12.2. The animal part of the machinery
12.3. So many Cs
12.4. The world’s bridge stocks
12.5. The need for investment
12.6. Brave new world?
12.7. Conclusion
Index