In the web article "I-5 and the Physics of Bridge Collapses", Hartsfield (2013) claimed that the concept behind a functional bridge design is what leads to its failure as well. The article examined the various types of bridges and found that different types of bridges have weaknesses specific to themselves. One such example stated by Hartsfield (2013) is truss bridges, which use geometric shapes as a basis for their strength and stability. As such, Hartsfield (2013) remarked that deformations on the shape will cause the bridge to fail. Suspension bridges fail due to their inability to withstand huge external forces. It is observed by Hartsfield (2013) that "when an external force causes the bridge to vibrate at its resonant frequency, it causes the vibration to grow stronger and stronger". Another example of such phenomenon is cantilever bridges. Hartsfield (2013) alleged that cantilever bridges are designed to be able to withstand the torque that the lever arm takes, yet failures are found to be due to construction oversight and overestimation of the torque it can take. Hartsfield (2013) concluded that understanding a bridge's inherent weaknesses is indispensable to uncovering the reason behind an unforeseen failure. While Hartsfield (2013) did a great job in informing his readers about the various inherent weaknesses in bridge design, he could have mentioned the other factors which can have an impact on said weaknesses.
Despite the flaws in bridge design, it is unlikely that the flaw itself is the only reason leading to the collapse of the bridge. Bridges are designed with the assumption that there will be a certain degree of servicing. Negligence in providing said degree of servicing tends to lead to premature bridge failures. This is supported by Grabianowski (n.d.), who implied that that regular maintenance could avert bridge collapses. While it is important to know the reasons behind the collapse of a bridge, attention should also be brought to the factors which can contribute to a collapse, with a major role being played by maintenance. While it may not be a contributing factor to the collapse of the I-5 bridge, raising awareness on the importance of maintenance can help towards preventing a similar tragedy from happening again. This is especially important as Horgan (2019) observed that there was an increasing trend in bridge collapses due to inadequate maintenance.
It is also likely that the designers and lawmakers are aware of the flaws in bridge design, and that measures are taken to safeguard the flaw. For instance, road barriers could be erected near the crucial supports to reduce the impact of collisions on the crucial supports. Guidelines implemented based on research can also be the deciding factor for when a bridge collapses. For example, it was found that circular column took lesser "blast pressure" than its square or rectangular counterparts (The University of Texas at Austin Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, n.d.). Having the results of such research implemented in guidelines would ensure that future bridges would be more resistant to blast from terrorist attacks.
Although Hartsfield (2013) did well to inform his readers on how the inherent design flaws in bridges can cause their collapses, he failed to mention other factors which can impact the bridge, potentially leading to an unfortunate misunderstanding by his readers. He should include other factors apart from the inherent design flaws so that his readers can get an objective view on the reasons behind bridge collapses.
References
Grabianowski, E. (n.d.). 10 reasons why bridges collapse. Howstuffworks.com. Retrieved from https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/10-reasons-why-bridges-collapse.htm Hartsfield, T. (2013, May 28). I-5 and the physics of bridge collapse. RealClear Science.com. Retrieved from https://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2013/05/29/i-5_and_the_physics_of_bridge_collapses_106544.html
Horgan, R. (2019). Fatal Taiwan bridge collapse is latest example of maintenance failings. New Civil Engineer.com. Retrieved from https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/fatal-taiwan-bridge-collapse-is-latest-example-of-maintenance-failings-07-10-2019/
The University of Texas at Austin Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering (n.d.). An engineer's perspective: protecting bridges from terrorist attacks. Retrieved from http://www.caee.utexas.edu/news/features/345-bridges
Previous drafts:
#1: https://cwneo1557.blogspot.com/2020/02/summary-readers-response-draft-1.html
#2: https://cwneo1557.blogspot.com/2020/02/summary-readers-response-draft-2_13.html
#3: https://cwneo1557.blogspot.com/2020/02/summary-readers-response-draft-3.html
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