Glass bottomed bridge failure 4

[LittleInch]

Seems they are not as secure as they thought.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/10/china-tourist-bridge-glass-panels-smash-longjing-city

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[dik]

When I used to rockclimb, we had an expression, "Holding on with your hands, feet and teeth." Seems appropriate... I cannot tell how much glazing remains; it could be pretty lethal debris.

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[JStephen]

I'm reminded of visiting the Royal Gorge bridge in the past. Looking down the length of the bridge, in "normal" winds, it looked like it was gently moving up and down perhaps a foot. Not really too perceptible when you were on it.
Then I was talking to an older lady in the area, and she mentioned that she had been there when it was moving enough that you couldn't see cars at the other end- and they had added stiffening cables since then.
So it would seem there is a learning curve on these things.

 

[JedClampett]

Sounds like a laundry problem to me.

 

[bimr]

One would think that using a rigid material like glass is not appropriate for a structure that will bend in the wind.

 

[TugboatEng]

Sometime in the past we decided to upgrade the flood lights on our tugboats to modern LED units. I had one key feature that I wanted to see on my lights and that was glass lenses. Polycarbonate lenses yellow over time and if I am paying a premium for LED light fixtures I need the fixture to last. I contacted the manufacturers and grilled them about why they run polycarbonate and every single one responded that they tried glass and the glass broke. Every single one of these manufacturers was using bolted flanges with o-rings to secure the glass panel. The thermal expansion of the aluminum fixture was breaking the panels. I finally found one manufacturer that simply beds their glass lens with silicone, no bolts. We've never had to replace a fixture, and now I have other tugboat operators reaching out to find out what our secret is

I see no difference here between glass decks on the bridge and glass windows on a high-rise building. The glass simply needs to be isolated from the movement of the structure. I guess the consequences are a little bit more severe if the glass deck does break, though.

 

[FacEngrPE]

I guess the glass bottom bridge builders did not learn the lesson of the John Hancock Building

 

[dik]

That's why we no longer do glazed, curtain wall buildings... the devil's in the details...

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[hokie66]

dik, who is "we"? You may not do glazed curtain walls, but a lot of them are being built.

 

[dik]

was being sarcastic, hokie...

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[JStephen]

Different bridge:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEm-CLf4nmI

 

[Alistair_Heaton]

I now know how to say "shut up woman I don't care we are going to be late visiting your mother" in Chinese