The Elementary Physics in Four Bridge Failures  

作　　者：Bernard J. Feldman 

机构地区：[1]University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, USA

出　　处：《US-China Education Review(B)》2011年第5期669-677,共9页美中教育评论（B）

摘　　要：This paper will describe the failure of four bridges： the 1-35W Bridge in Minneapolis, the London Millennium Footbridge, the Nimitz Freeway and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. There were alternate explanations for the failures of all four bridges. These alternate explanations （engineering design failure vs. maintenance failure, synchronous lateral excitation vs. human balance response, static vs. dynamic mechanism and forced harmonic oscillation vs. aerodynamically induced self-excitation） can all be understood using elementary physics concepts and provide wonderful examples for introductory physics students.

关 键 词：bridge failure 1-35W Bridge in Minneapolis London Millennium Footbridge Nimitz Freeway Tacoma Narrows Bridge 

分 类 号：O4-4[理学—物理] G62[文化科学—教育学]