Miami Pedestrian Bridge, Part XIV 78

[JAE]

A continuation of our discussion of this failure. Best to read the other threads first to avoid rehashing things already discussed.

Part I
thread815-436595

Part II
thread815-436699

Part III
thread815-436802

Part IV
thread815-436924

Part V
thread815-437029

Part VI
thread815-438451

Part VII
thread815-438966

Part VIII
thread815-440072

Part IX
thread815-451175

Part X
thread815-454618

Part XI
thread815-454998

Part XII
thread815-455746

Part XIII
thread815-457935

 

[waross]

It is unfortunate that alleged improper construction led to cracking.
Allegedly responsible experts examined the cracks.
The alleged experts then dismissed the cracks as unimportant and gave orders that resulted in the destruction of the bridge and multiple deaths.
The contractor may have made an expensive mistake but he was not responsible the death and destruction.
That is on the alleged experts.


Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[Mark R]

"Very sad that FIGG (EoR with significant past-experience as a senior bridge design engineer) personally witnessed that degree of cracking/distress then attend a meeting stating:"

Certainly not to defend anybody but you have to remember that while he was a well-qualified senior bridge design engineer he nor anyone else had any experience with a breach of this type. As a matter fact since most of their experience was with steel construction for bridges there overall view of what was a problem was probably somewhat distorted.

 

[Lomarandil]

Then don't design a bridge of that type.

Either you have prior experience, you have a solid grasp of the fundamentals to assess new situations, or you don't perform the work. Basic engineering ethics.

I agree that FIGG and Pate's reputations only get more soiled the more we learn.

----
just call me Lo.

 

[hokie66]

"Alleged improper construction" is just an attempt to deflect. This was design error, pure and simple. Then stupidity/negligence in not closing the road.

 

[SFCharlie]

since most of their experience was with steel construction for bridges

Actually, they have tons of experience with precast post tension concrete bridges

SF Charlie
Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

 

[SFCharlie]

Creating bridges as art

SF Charlie
Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

 

[LionelHutz]

There are no excuses for any of the experts in charge not knowing the cracking was an issue. Just from the pictures, I can easily tell that the cracking clearly showed member 11 was trying to exit the bridge through member 12 and I've never done any work with structural concrete.

 

[Ingenuity]

An 4th year undergraduate student in any engineering program - even 'blind-Freddie' who could place a finger 4" into the cracks - would have done something more than attend a meeting and state it was all-good, then jump on a plane back to the office and text Linda Figg that the “meeting went pretty well”. Sheesh!

 

[Vance Wiley]

Sheesh!

And consider how uncharacteristic that action was for an experienced and seasoned and awarded engineer.

 

[Ingenuity]

And consider how uncharacteristic that action was for an experienced and seasoned and awarded engineer.

Yes, so true. Negligent at best, and possibly criminal negligent.

 

[Ingenuity]

News article in today's (08/12/2020) ENR:

FIGG Bridge Engineers Sues to Block Federal Debarment Link​

 

[SFCharlie]

Let's hope the feds can convince the court not to buy, as put so well by

WJE ... defending FIGG and focusing solely on the fact that the surface was never roughened

SF Charlie
Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

 

[waross]

As well as their other shortcomings it may be argued that Figg failed in their due diligence in that they did not inspect and verify that a critical surface was adequately roughened.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[RVAmeche]

I believe they've blamed the construction management group for that oversight. If your entire structure relies on friction due to a roughened surface, it looks worse for Figg/EOR to say they didn't have that inspection in their scope (or whatever their excuse is).

 

[ImminentCollapse]

From Figg's party submission to the NTSB relating the events on the morning of the collapse, their own words:

"Figg left the site to return to Tallahassee to develop a way to enhance the north end truss member connection at this stage of construction."

Why? If all was well and good and no one had any concerns, why?

IC

 

[Ingenuity]

Judge Rejects FIGG's Motion to Halt 10-Year Debarment ==> Link

 

[bridgebuster]

A concise summary of the failure

 

[waross]

Is it possible to link to the source of that page, Bridgebuster?
Thanks.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[jhardy1]

NASA is citing the FIU Bridge failure as an object lesson in preparation for their planned return to the Moon in 2024:

"Miami Pedestrian Bridge Collapse - A Bridge Too Frail"
June 23, 2020

https://nsc.nasa.gov/resources/case-studies/detail/miami-pedestrian-bridge-collapse

Lessons Learned
[ul]
[li]Design for resilience[/li]
[li]Understand failures from previous generations[/li]
[li]Encourage open discussions about failure-related lessons learned[/li]
[li]Understand failure factors before implementing Corrective Actions[/li]
[li]Avoid designing outside of proven engineering principles[/li]
[/ul]

http://julianh72.blogspot.com

 

[thebard3]

Julian-- It remains for me to be seen that NASA has learned from their own mistakes. Also, I found the statement "Avoid designing outside of proven engineering principles" to be curious. That concept would have clearly kept us from going to the moon 50 years ago. A sound response to obvious signs of failures would be a more germain approach. It's related to in that article, but was central to the loss of 2 shuttle vehicles and crews.

Sorry for straying outside the subject of this discussion.

Brad Waybright

The more you know, the more you know you don't know.