Minneapolis Bridge Failure Report Due out Soon 2

[MJCronin]

To all..

I understand that preliminary details have been released about this long awaited report.

As I understand it, structural gusset plates were undersized (or marginal) and the strength of the corroded plate was not adequate for the load.

Also, (as I understand it) there will again be an argument as to who is responsible for the final review and approval of structural details.

Anyone remember the cause of the Hyatt Regency walkway collapse in 1981 (Kansas City, MO)? ...114 people DEAD..!!!

The investigators found a structural detail that was done by someone who was incompetent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyatt_Regency_walkway_collapse

Deja Vu all over again ???

My opinion only...


-MJC

 

[JAE]

I agree.

But my earlier point was that the culture of design at the time (back in mid 1970's) was that the EOR did not do connection designs.

I think for what it's worth, the Hyatt Regency Collapse at least moved the US structural design practice away from fabricator designs (at least with unique connections). For standard beam to beam or beam to column connections we still see fabricators doing the design in many parts of the country.

 

[hokie66]

The problem that I see, and I am coming primarily from an Australian perspective, is that elements of this design culture are creeping back. Not so much in structural steel connections, but in division of responsibility due to the different methods of project delivery now employed, e.g. design-build, partnerships, novation of design, etc.

The one I have most concern about here in Australia is delegating the design of the "flatwork", usually post-tensioned slabs, to others. The post-tensioning contractor then hires his own engineers, and there is too much separation between the base building engineer and the subcontractor's engineer. There are other examples.

 

[Qshake]

MJC - My point is that you bring only two issues to the table/forum (gusset plates/corrosion) but there are many, many other factors in this than just thin, corroded gusset plates. I'm suggesting that you are (assuming you're not involved in the investigation) not knowlegeable of this matter and you focus on a single matter.

As a structural engineer who is in the major bridge industry I tend to see this as very closed minded and the public deserves better from the scientific process and how a multitude of factors acted in concert to produce the results on a single day, certain time.

And no, I'm not suggesting we start looking for the alien beings from Area 51!!

Regards,
Qshake

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