Author Topic: Cracks where FIU bridge buckled may have signaled 'imminent failure'  (Read 1322 times)

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Offline Elderberry

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Miami Herald By Andres Viglucci, Nicholas Nehamas And Jenny Staletovich May 07, 2018

A key concrete support truss in the doomed Florida International University pedestrian bridge developed worrisome cracks 10 days before the structure was lifted into place over the Tamiami Trail, photographs and an internal email unintentionally released by the school show.

The documents, released in response to public records requests from the Miami Herald, show that FIU's construction and engineering team discovered potentially problematic cracks in the bridge earlier than officials have previously acknowledged.

The cracks were found in late February at the base of a diagonal support member at the north end of the span. Independent engineers have identified that as the point where the structure shattered on March 15 while under construction, sending the 950-ton bridge crashing onto the roadway below and claiming six lives.

Three independent engineers who examined the photos, records and bridge blueprints at the Herald's request concurred the cracks were a red flag signaling potentially critical structural problems. Outside experts have zeroed in on that truss member, identified in plans as No. 11, as being "under-designed" — that is, not strong enough to withstand the pressure from the weight of the bridge it was supposed to hold up.

More: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article210449384.html