Talk:Tacoma Narrows Bridge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

isn't this why many bridges now have upper and lower levels, because of the added strength? Slrubenstein

  • I was under the impression that the new design doesn't twist in the wind because it is open and allows wind to flow through. Correct me if I'm wrong.

The original design was (relatively) smooth, like a sail, or an aeroplane wing. Refer to airfoils... The open truss means that passing air swirls turbulently preventing a smooth thrust - leading edge twisted up, force up on the smooth lower surface facing the wind, until the flex response forces the leading edge down, so a force down on the smooth upper surface; likewise on the back surface to the wind the airflow smoothly follows the surface, curving around the leading edge to do so and creating a low pressure that augments the high pressure on the wind-facing side in a nett force. With turbulent airflow, what would be the low pressure area is backfilled with turbulent air. Thus for example, sailors prefer to have no clutter near their sails, and sails with both sides smooth. NickyMcLean 20:58, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

  • This I don't know. I only know that bridges are now built to avoid the "twisting" that set up the resonance in the TNB. -- April
  • Resonance! Are we under the evil spells of entry-level physics textbooks? ;) TNB collapsed from simple aerodynamic instability, or at least I am writing a paper to support that argument. look at http://www.ketchum.org/ajp1.html ?

Contents

[edit] Simple logic says it was resonance

By simple logic and Mill's Canons, it was resonance. Since the wind still blows across Tacoma Narrows and the re-designed bridge now stands, the original bridge design must have been susceptible to resonance, and the structure weakened by the oscillations caused by the resonance. Have you in fact seen the film of Galloping Gertie?

I hope to god that the entry above was made in sarcasm. Are you SURE the new design works because it's "resonance-proof" or because it fixes a different problem?

The film clearly shows that the mode that destroyed the bridge was torsional, and was flutter. It also shows other modes, which were non-destructive and earned the bridge the Galloping Gertie nickname. That's why there's so much confusion out there. moink 04:57, 7 Dec 2003 (UTC)

[edit] blog comment

is the comment about the bridge being used in a blog logo really necessary? what purpose does it serve? --Rain 19:31, 20 May 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Picture?

What happened to the picture? Is someone working on replacing it? - Tεxτurε 21:17, 13 September 2005 (UTC)

I'm heading up to Seattle today. I'll stop by and take a photo on the way, hope the weather is nice. Cacophony 18:13, 21 January 2006 (UTC)


[edit] New Bridge

Why isn't there a picture of the bridge as it stands today? R'son-W 09:49, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Vandalism

"GUANDI WAS A GREAT PRESIDENT"? Correct me if I'm wrong, but that has just about nothing to do with the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. And I don't think it's "280999990 ft/8543550 m" long. What the balls?!


[edit] Tubby the dog

Be Jesus.. does that mean Tubby was deliberately left in the car? Tubbyy!- max rspct leave a message 03:04, 29 April 2006 (UTC)