The collapse of the tacoma narrows bridge on the morning of november 7, 1940, is the most iconic example of a spectacular bridge failure in modern times. Tacoma narrows bridge 1940 simple english wikipedia. The tacoma bridge was built with a light design which made it very sensitive to high winds. After the various studies of the collapse, a new suspension bridge was constructed at the same location. The tacoma bridge is built, with some amazing and exciting footage of men dangling from cages to put the beast together, after a of course pompous bridge opening ceremony, disaster strikes, as the bridge starts weaving to and fro, its still pretty incredible to see such footage today.
It received its nickname galloping gertie because of the vertical movement of the deck observed by construction workers during windy. Tacoma bridge collapse brief description of the disaster the tacoma narrows bridge aka galloping gertie was opened to traffic on july 1, 1940 and was built to link tacoma to the gig harbour. Today, galloping gertie is known as the worlds largest manmade reef. Today i found out the only victim of the tacoma narrows, galloping gertie, bridge collapse was a three legged dog the three legged dog in question was a black cocker spaniel left in the back seat of the lone car abandoned on the galloping bridge. In july 1940, the tacoma narrows bridge opened to traffic between tacoma, washington and the kitsap peninsula. On 7 november 1940 the tacoma narrows bridge in washington state collapsed during a gale. It opened to traffic on july 1, 1940, and dramatically collapsed into puget sound on november 7 the same year. The bridges collapse was a lesson in poor design and engineering. The footage became the basis for a textbook example of resonance, which is a standard topic in high school physics. The tacoma narrows bridge, nicknamed galloping gertie, fell into puget sound during a windstorm in 1940. When the tacoma narrows bridge over puget sound in the state of washington famously collapsed on november 7, 1940, it was captured on film for posterity. On november 7, 1940, the bridge spanning the tacoma narrows strait of puget sound collapsed after moving dramatically up and down during high winds.
Also covers galloping gerties creation, subsequent studies involving its aerodynamics, and finally the construction of a second bridge spanning the narrows. Why the tacoma narrows bridge was nicknamed galloping gertie. University of washington libraries digital collection tacoma narrows bridge collection more than 152 images and text documenting the infamous collapse in 1940 of the tacoma narrows bridge. How galloping gertie collapsed left us a lasting design legacy. The bridge was built over the tacoma narrows strait of puget sound between tacoma and the kitsap peninsula. Colour footage of the tacoma narrows bridge youtube. Tacoma narrows bridge historical archives underwater imagesvideo exploration updates galloping gertie today. Tacoma narrows bridge bridge, washington, united states. It was constructed to cross the tacoma narrows, part of puget sound, between the city of tacoma and the kitsap peninsula.
University of washington libraries online exhibit of 190 images gives the story of the construction, collapse and rebuilding of the bridge. The new bridge is four lanes wide and has open grid sides instead of solid ibeams. Produced by koyo kim and raluca ifrim for national history day 2007. A look back at the insane tacoma narrows bridge collapse. When reporters asked lead project engineer clark eldridge to explain why the narrows bridge collapsed, he could not hold back. Measure these values for your bridge span model and determine the modes of vibration. Tubby, a black cocker spaniel who was riding with leonard coatsworth, a news editor for the tacoma news tribune. Much of the original gertie s wreckage still resides on the floor of the tacoma narrows today, forming one of the worlds largest artificial reefs. Four months after its opening, on the morning of november 7, 1940, in a wind of about 42 miles 67 km per hour, the 2,800foot 840metre main span, which had already exhibited a marked. The man blamed for the fall of tacomas galloping gertie.
The disaster is especially well known because of dramatic film footage taken the day of the. The original tacoma narrows bridge all references made here are related to the original bridge, not its subsequent replacement which is in service today was built in washington state. The fifthlongest suspension bridge in the nation, the original became known as galloping gertie. Tacoma narrows bridge collapse sound version standard 4.
The gigantic twisting motion of the bridge threw coatsworths car against the curb, and he climbed out of an open window to try to crawl to safety. The harbor history museum will debut new video of the 1940 collapse of the tacoma narrows bridge, also known as galloping gertie. At first, the bridges deck began to experience vertical moment as a result of severe winds. The tacoma narrows bridge opened to traffic on july 1, 1940 and collapsed into puget sound on november 7 of the same year. During the collapse, the main suspension cables were thrown violently side to side, twisted, and tossed 100 feet into the air. The tacoma narrows bridge funsite scale model of 1940.
The collapse of the tacoma narrows bridge essay 2336. Tacoma narrows and suspension bridges on pbs, nova online includes video of galloping gertie in oscillation action. Tacoma narrows bridges history and information funsite, where you can buy parts of the historic bridge. Sturdy gertie has stood since 1950, and will soon be joined by a sister bridge to accommodate increased traffic. The tacoma narrows bridge is famous for collapsing in a spectacular fashion during a windstorm. In november 1940, the tacoma narrows bridge collapsed due to a combination of high winds and poor construction. The remarkable oscillations of its long and slender center span in the months leading up to the catastrophe earned the bridge the moniker galloping gertie. At the time it was the third longest suspension bridge in the world, just behind the golden gate bridge and the george washington bridge. They slipped from their positions in the cable saddles atop each tower. The worlds third largest suspension bridge, the latest and most advanced in its sleek design, was a twisted tangle of steel and broken concrete.
Tacoma narrows bridge collapse fairfield university. In this footage, the bridge can be seen literally waving and twisting for several minutes before finally collapsing into puget sound. Both resonance from vortex shedding and aeroelastic. Tacoma narrows bridge collapse now, the day that the tacoma narrows bridge collapsed wasnt the first day wind had caused it to oscillate hence the nickname galloping gertie given to it before. Historically, the name tacoma narrows bridge has applied to the original bridge nicknamed. Tacoma narrows bridge, first suspension bridge across the narrows of puget sound, connecting the olympic peninsula with the mainland of washington state, u. Tacoma narrows bridge galloping gertie 1940 duration. Successcreating the narrows bridge, 19371940 galloping gertie collapses, november 7, 1940. The tacoma narrows bridge is a pair of twin suspension bridges that span the tacoma narrows strait of puget sound in pierce county, washington. The bridges connect the city of tacoma with the kitsap peninsula and carry state route 16 known as primary state highway 14 until 1964 over the strait. The bridge collapsed into puget sound on november 7 of the same year. A new tacoma bridge was built in 1950, consisting of a wider roadway and features designed to secure the bridge more firmly during wind storms. In this lesson, youll dive into the physics of this collapse by learning about resonance frequency. The tacoma narrows bridge also known as galloping gertie is a wellknown and welldocumented suspension bridge failure that occurred on november 7, 1940 at approximately 11am, four months after the bridge was first opened to the public.
In november, 1940, the newly completed tacoma narrows bridge, opened barely four months before, swayed and collapsed in a 42 mileperhour wind. Financing construction of the bridge was a major obstacle, which led the state to pursue an innovative design. It was opened on october 14, 1950, and has not displayed any of the interesting oscillatory properties of the first bridge. A rescue was attempted by the man with the pipe, but the frightened animal would not leave the car. The case of the tacoma narrows bridge is a wellknown cautionary tale thats discussed in engineering and physics classrooms across the world.
At the time, it was the thirdlongest suspension bridge in the world. The only victim of the tacoma narrows bridge collapse was. He shot various photos of the twisting bridge and the first splash of debris hitting the water. The tacoma bridge is built, with some amazing and exciting footage of men dangling from cages to put the beast together, after a of course pompous bridge opening ceremony, disaster strikes, as the bridge starts weaving to and fro, its still pretty incredible. The portion of the bridge that fell into the water now serves as an artificial reef. Galloping gertie the collapse of the tacoma narrows bridge 79,349 viewsjul 19, 2012 washington history 103 subscribers galloping gertie the collapse of the tacoma narrows bridge examines the creation and demise of the original tacoma narrows bridge.
The collapse of galloping gertie the tacoma narrows bridge. Ethical issues from the tacoma narrows bridge collapse. The 1940 tacoma narrows bridge was the first version of the tacoma narrows bridge. Science busts the biggest myth ever about why bridges collapse. Then after 29 months of construction, a new, much safer tacoma narrows bridge opened on oct. The original tacoma narrows bridge opened on july 1, 1940. The footage shows the disaster from the gig harbor side of the. Professional photographer james jim bashford gets credit for snapping the most famous photograph of galloping gerties spectacular collapse on the morning of november 7, 1940 bashford got news that the bridge was behaving wildly and rushed to the narrows.
Also covers galloping gertie s creation, subsequent studies involving its aerodynamics, and finally the construction of a second bridge spanning the narrows. The new bridge spans 5,979 feet 40 feet longer than galloping gertie. There were no casualties except a dog trapped in a car stranded on the bridge. More than 152 images and text documenting the infamous collapse in 1940 of the tacoma narrows bridge. Only four months later, the great spans short life ended in disaster as the 1940 tacoma narrows bridge, also known as galloping gertie, collapsed in a windstorm on november 7, 1940. For the next 10 years, tacoma and gig harborthe olympic peninsula were once again unconnected by bridge.
On the day the first bridge over puget sound collapsed 75 years ago this week, a mixedbreed cocker spaniel named tubby was the only life lost. The collapse of the tacoma narrows bridge resulted in only one fatality. That headline appeared in the tacoma times on november 9, 1940, two days after the collapse of galloping gertie. Tacoma narrows bridge collapse color video youtube. Lost footage of historical tacoma narrows bridge collapse. But the tacoma narrows bridge collapse stayed with eldridge. An abundance of marine life thrives among the massive girder sections, concrete rubble and halfmile of roadway submerged beneath the sound.
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