About the Book

As widely known, much of the knowledge of today is often based on the failures of the past. Just like in the last century, structural engineers still learn immensely from studying historical failures of structures, such as bridges. In addition, when studying real bridge failures, both the theory and the related phenomenon are supported by what has happened in practice, which positively affects the acceptation and visualization of the mathematical theories by the engineer.

Richly illustrated and in a straightforward style, the author has provided a detailed overview of 20 cases of famous and other highly interesting bridge collapses over the last two centuries. Every case is illustrated and described in detail and the failure analyses made are supported by well-known explanations and, in some cases, by new theories. The chronological order makes it easy to follow the gradual development in the use of different bridge types and the choice of construction material. The increase of knowledge and experience in the structural engineering discipline over the years is clearly observable, although every modern engineer will admit that both fatigue and buckling are very complex phenomena and that knowledge about them can increasingly profit from studying past bridge construction projects failures.

This book is intended for consulting engineers (bridges, steel and metal structures) and for advanced-level and postgraduate students in structural and bridge engineering. Because of its systematic and visual character it may also form a good introduction to bridge failures and the understanding of complex structures to undergraduate students in civil and mechanical engineering.