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Why the Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapsed

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Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse


Tacoma Fire Department (Video)
Castle Films (Sound)
In November, 1940, the newly completed Tacoma Narrows Bridge, opened barely four months before, swayed and collapsed in a 42 mile-per-hour wind. There were no casualties except a dog trapped in a car stranded on the bridge. A rescue was attempted (by the man with the pipe), but the frightened animal would not leave the car.

The site was declared a National Historic Landmark to discourage relic seekers and salvage operations.

This file is a composite of the good quality Internet Archive file and the soundtrack of a poor quality (heavily scratched and filled with abrasions) Castle Film entitled The Movies Greatest Headlines, which is also in the public domain. I've edited the video to make it fit the sound. I also filtered the sound track to get rid of the hiss and to cut down on the tinny sound.

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Tacoma-Narrows Bridge Collapse -- Time Corrected

This is the famous footage of the failure of the Tacoma Narrows bridge in Washington State, which collapsed 75 years ago today, on November 7, 1940. Now it turns out, though we have been seeing this footage many times in the past (especially if you ever take a college course in physics or engineering), we have been seeing it at the wrong speed! It turns out when the news agencies first made copies of the film footage, they used the wrong frame rate of 24fps, when it should have been 16fps. So we've been seeing the footage sped-up all this time!

So I have slowed the footage and applied some frame blending to smooth it out, and now it shows the bridge undulations as they really would have appeared if you were standing by the bridge on that day 75 years ago. (With a resonant frequency of 12 cycles per minute.)
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Tacoma Narrows Bridge from the air

The original Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened in 1940 and only lasted a few months before collapsing when winds caused it to flutter. Amazingly this was caught on film and if you haven't seen it you must!

The bridge was replaced ten years later in 1950. When I lived in Tacoma in the 1980s this was the bridge I used when going over to Gig Harbor and points north.

In 2007 a second bridge was added to handle the additional traffic in the area. Now the eastbound (into Tacoma) traffic on the new bridge is tolled.

These present bridges are the 5th longest in the US at 5,979ft (1.13miles) or 1822m.

This was the first bridge video I've shot with my DJI Mavic Air 2. The long battery life and range is needed to capture such a massive structure. Although I have been over the bridge (well, the westbound one) countless times this was one view I'd never seen before.
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Remnants of old Tacoma Narrows Bridge after collapse- Harbor History Museum- Gig Harbor, WA

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Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Interstate 705 in Tacoma, WA & the Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Join me and others in the InterstateKyle's Road Warriors Facebook group:

As well as the Freewayjim Facebook group:

FIU Pedestrian Bridge Collapse: What Was the Cause?

Kelley / Uustal Attorney, Peter Spillis, discusses the FIU Pedestrian Bridge collapse

Tacoma Narrows Bridge, aka: Galloping Gertie With a ride across the new Sturdy Gertie !

NirvanaVEVO by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (
Source:
Artist:

The Big Decision by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (
Artist:

Dirt Road Traveler by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (
Artist:

Do not march over this bridge.

In the 19th century a bridge collapsed in Greater Manchester when 74 soldiers were marching over it. It was discovered that the resonance of their footsteps undermined it and as a result, soliders were not allowed to march over bridges. The Albert Bridge still has the signs telling soldiers heading back and forth over the bridge to the Chelsea Barracks to break formation. Amazing that this whole phenomenon completely eluded Norman Foster when building the Millennium Bridge (see fun London Fact #95).

#londonwalkingtours #londontours
#walkingtours #funfacts #london #bridge #troops #soldiers #millenniumbridge #normanfoster #collapse #albertbridge #londonbridge

Destruction of Tacoma Narrows Bridge Washington in 1940

The 1940 Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge, was a suspension bridge in the U.S. state of Washington that spanned the Tacoma Narrows strait of Puget Sound between Tacoma and the Kitsap Peninsula.
Construction on the bridge began in September 1938. From the time the deck was built, it began to move vertically in windy conditions, which led to construction workers giving the bridge the nickname Galloping Gertie. The motion was observed even when the bridge opened to the public. Several measures aimed at stopping the motion were ineffective and the bridge's main span finally collapsed under 40-mile-per-hour (64 km/h) wind conditions the morning of November 7, 1940.

Note: I don't own this video and video credit and rights goes to people recorded this video and ones who spread it.
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Narrows Bridge Collapse 1940

Does a Gigantic Octopus Really Live Under the Tacoma Narrows Bridge? We Drove Across the Bridge!!!

If you've ever thought the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed due to resonance, you've fallen for the same myth that scientists did. Whenever you have an object suspended between two points, it's free to move, vibrate, oscillate, etc. It has its own response to outside stimuli, just like a guitar string vibrates in response to outside excitations. That's what the bridge did most of the time: simply vibrated up-and-down as cars passed over it, as the wind blew, etc.

Tacoma narrows bridge crossing time-lapse. #explore #travel #timelapse #driving

Title: The Tacoma Narrows Bridge: A Story of Engineering Marvel and Dramatic Collapse

Introduction:

Bridges are magnificent structures that connect cities, facilitate trade, and bring communities together. They represent the triumphs of engineering and human ingenuity. However, not all bridge stories have a happy ending. One such tale is that of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, a remarkable engineering feat that met a tragic demise. Join us as we explore the captivating history, awe-inspiring design, and devastating collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

1. The Birth of the Bridge:

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge, also known as Galloping Gertie, was a suspension bridge spanning the Tacoma Narrows strait in Washington, USA. Completed in 1940, it served as a vital link between Tacoma and the Kitsap Peninsula, significantly reducing travel time for thousands of commuters.

2. Ingenious Design:

Designed by renowned engineer Leon Moisseiff, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge boasted a sleek and slender design, with a span of 2,800 feet (853 meters) and a width of 39 feet (12 meters). It was the third-longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its construction.

3. The Mysterious Phenomenon:

However, shortly after its completion, the bridge began to exhibit unusual behavior. On November 7, 1940, a mere four months after its opening, strong winds produced a unique phenomenon known as aeroelastic flutter. The bridge started to twist and sway, earning it the nickname Galloping Gertie due to its undulating motion.

4. The Collapse:

The twisted dance of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge mesmerized onlookers, who came from far and wide to witness the spectacle. But tragically, on November 7, 1940, the bridge's oscillations escalated to uncontrollable levels. The roadway snapped, and in a dramatic fashion, the bridge plunged into the icy waters of the Puget Sound. Miraculously, no human lives were lost.

5. Lessons Learned:

The collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge led to significant advancements in bridge engineering and aerodynamics. Engineers realized the importance of accounting for wind forces and the impact of resonance in the design of suspension bridges. The disaster prompted a shift in bridge design principles, leading to the development of more stable and resistant structures.

6. The Second Tacoma Narrows Bridge:

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge was rebuilt and replaced by a new structure, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (now known as the Sturdy Gertie). Opened to the public in 1950, the new bridge incorporated numerous design modifications to ensure its stability, including the use of deeper girders and a truss system to combat wind-induced vibrations.

7. A Symbol of Resilience:

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge serves as a testament to the resilience of engineers and the indomitable human spirit. It stands as a reminder of the importance of learning from failures and adapting designs to overcome challenges.

Conclusion:

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge, with its mesmerizing oscillations and ultimate collapse, remains an iconic symbol of engineering challenges and triumphs. Its story reminds us of the ever-evolving nature of bridge design and the necessity of pushing the boundaries of innovation while respecting the forces of nature. As we traverse the marvels of engineering that connect us, let us remember the lessons learned from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and continue to build safer and more robust structures for future generations.

Driving Across Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Galloping Gertie History | War Memorial Park & Narrows Bridge

#gallopinggertie #history #NarrowsBridge #tacoma

Please join us on this adventure as we head at to Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which was previously the infamous Galloping Gertie.

We give you a short history of the bridge as well as show you around the War Memorial Park which is the official entrance of the bridge on the Tacoma side.

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Camera gear we use:

Main camera:

Fuji X-S10 mirrorless camera with 18-55 kit lens



Wide angle lens: Fujinon XF10-24mmF4 R OIS WR




2nd Camera: Sony A400



Sony wide lens:



Compact Vlog camera: Sony ZV1



Compact handheld Vlog camera: DJI pocket 2



Main microphone: Rode VideoMic Pro+




Duo microphone: Deity D4 Duo:



Wireless Microphone Rode GO II:



Action Camera: GoPro Hero 9 black



Drone: DJI Mavic Mini Combo



Compact gimbal: Zhiyun Crane M3



Phone gimbal:



Favorite Camera bag:

Mindshift Urban Access 15:



Camera Strap: Peak Design Slide Light



Small compact camera light: Ulanzi VL30



Travel tripod: Sirui T-024SK+B-00K
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Tacoma Narrows Bridge - Last day before tolls

Last day on the bridge before the tolls begin. Strangely enough the second bridge will only add 1 lane of HOV traffic in each direction even though the project has cost around $1 Billion; even more strange is HOV lanes are Federally funded not state funded!

Interesting info. When I made this video no one cared about background music. Now google reports this a having a copyright claim, and recommends I remove the track. However when I try to remove the music, the music owner will not let me as they are claiming monetization for the music in the video.

Grand Opening of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge - Tacoma Washington

Back in 2007, I got to cover the grand opening of the second Tacoma Narrows Bridge! The Tacoma Narrows Bridge Opening Celebration was a once in a lifetime chance to experience!

Back on November 7, 1940, a huge gale storm caused the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to sway and eventually collapse. The Narrows bridge got the nickname Gallopin' Gertie. They rebuilt the bridge after the collapse but on 2007, the 2nd Tacoma Narrows Bridge was opened to the public.

I had an all access pass to the prime spots to get the wonderful shots from the marathon runners to the birds-eye view of the entire thing!

July 15, 2007, will be a day I will always remember.

Video shot with the Sony FX1:

Edited with Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 but looks like Amazon got a deal for the 12-month subscription on the CC version.

Affiliate links above

Awesome music by Debroska

Bridge collapse

It's scary ... this bridge collapsed four months after it was built.

Tacoma narrows bridge

Tacoma Narrows Bridge destruction

Nagranie katastrofy mostu Tacoma Narrows Bridge jako przykład niekorzystnego rezonansu drgań.

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