1.

TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
SOLUTION: GAPS
2. VIBRATION EFFECTS
• Opened on July 1
1940
• Collapsed on
November 7 1940
• Wind speed was
~40 miles per hour
3. OVERLOADING
4. FOUNDATION
5. CONNECTION DETAILS
• I-35W
Mississippi
Bridge Failure

• (August 2007)

• Probable cause
of failure:
• Undersized
Gusset Plate
6. EARTHQUAKES
THEREFORE, IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT WE UNDERSTAND
HOW MATERIALS FAIL
External Forces

Internal Forces

ΔFz
ΔA
 +Z
F

+Y

+X
 +Z
FZ
FY
+Y
FX

+X
NORMAL FORCE:
PERPENDICULAR TO THE CROSS SECTION
a) STRETCHING – TENSILE FORCE / TENSION
b) COMPRESSION – COMPRESSIVE FORCE /
COMPRESSION

SHEAR FORCE:
PARALLEL TO THE CROSS SECTION
 +Z
FZ
FY
+Y
FX

+X
 +Z
FZ
FY
+Y
FX

+X
 +Z
MZ M

MY +Y
MX

+X
TORSION:
PERPENDICULAR TO THE CROSS SECTION

BENDING MOMENT:
PARALLEL TO THE CROSS SECTION
 +Z
MZ
MY +Y
MX

+X
 +Z
MZ
MY +Y
MX

+X