Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 1.10b
The Ashtabula Bridge, Ohio after the 1876 collapse. (Ashtabula Railway
Historical Foundation.)
In addition, the collapse of the Tay Railway Bridge in 1879, only 18 months
after completion, promoted a renewed interest in wind loads applied to bridges
(Figures 1.11a and b). The Tay bridge collapse also reinforced the belief, held by
many engineers, that light and relatively flexible structures are not appropriate for
railway bridges.
These bridge failures shook the foundations of bridge engineering practice and
created an impetus for research into new methods (for design and construction) and
materials to ensure the safety and reliability of railway bridges. The investigation and
specification of wind loads for bridges also emerged from research conducted follow-
ing these railway bridge collapses. Furthermore, in both Europe and the United States,
a new emphasis on truss analysis and elastic stability was developing in response to
railway bridge failures.
FIGURE 1.11a
The Tay River Bridge, England before the 1879 collapse.
