Failed Bridges: Case Studies, Causes and Consequences

When bridges fail, often with loss of human life, those involved may be unwilling to speak openly about the cause. Yet it is possible to learn from mistakes. The lessons gained lead to greater safety and are a source of innovation.
This book contains a systematic, unprecedented overview of more than 400 bridge failures assigned to the time of their occurrence in the bridges′ life cycle and to the releasing events. Primary causes are identified. Many of the cases investigated are published here fpr the first time and previous interpretations are shown to be incomplete or incorrect. A catalogue of rules that can help to avoid future mistakes in design analysis, planning and erection is included.
A lifetime′s work brilliantly compiled and courageously presented – a wealth of knowledge and experience for every structural engineer.

Spis treści:
Foreword by Christian Menn
Preface
Introduction
Failure of bridges, general information
Failure during construction
Failure in service
Failure due to ship collision impact
Failure due to traffic collision impact under the bridge
Failure due to traffic collision impact on the bridge
Failure due to high water, ice and timber flow, hurricane
Failure due to fire or explosion
Failure due to seismic event
Failure of scaffolding
Lessons for civil engineering practice
– General observations
– Planning and design
– Structural analysis and constructivge design
– Construction management
– Inspection and maintenance of structures
– Rules formulated in engineering literature
– My own summary
Lessons for teaching
Literature
Index

Nota biograficzna:
Univ. Prof. Dr.–Ing. E. h. Joachim Scheer taught Steel Construction at the Technical University of Braunschweig (Germany). He has investigated and written expert reports on numerous cases of structural failure and has fre quently served as a coordinator of committees working on German technical standards. This book is based on over thirty years of teaching, research and consultancy.