Related Bridge Failures
The Angers bridge was not the first suspension bridge to collapse. Previous failures included the Dryburgh Abbey Bridge in 1818 and the The Royal Suspension Chain Pier in Brighton in 1836. The Menai Suspension Bridge was damaged by wind in 1825, 1836 and 1839. The Broughton Suspension Bridge had collapsed in 1831 when soldiers marched over it in step. Subsequent spectacular suspension bridge collapses caused by wind include the failure of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940. However, the Angers bridge failure caused by far the greatest number of casualties.
When the Millennium Bridge was opened in 2000, the motion of pedestrians caused it to vibrate, and they fell into step with the vibrations, increasing them. This is the mechanism that probably increased the vibrations of the Angers Bridge. The problem at the Millennium Bridge was corrected during the next two years.
Read more about this topic: Angers Bridge
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