Title: Minnesota I35W steel bridge collapse: lessons learned and challenges revealed

Authors: S. Hao

Addresses: ACII, INC., P.O. Box 8090, Wilmette, IL 60091 & P.O. Box 5956, Irvine, CA 92616, USA

Abstract: This article discusses an independent investigation and associated forensic analysis of the old Minneapolis highway I35W Bridge that collapsed on 1 August 2007, which is based on a thorough examination of the original design drawings, a series of detailed 2D/3D finite elements computations of the bridge and the material evidences disclosed by National Safety Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) official investigation. The results have been organised into four reports submitted to the related government agencies during the first three years after the incident. Particularly, material evidences of fatigue damages in the bridge are examined in this article.

Keywords: Minneapolis highway I35W; highway bridges; bridge collapse; independent investigation; forensic analysis; gusset plates; fatigue damage; trusses; deck-truss superstructure; steel bridges; bridge design; design drawings; finite element computations; finite element analysis; FEA.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFE.2014.059245

International Journal of Forensic Engineering, 2014 Vol.2 No.1, pp.29 - 70

Published online: 21 Oct 2014 *

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