In the Wake of Tacoma: Suspension Bridges and the Quest for Aerodynamic Stability

"In the Wake of Tacoma" is the first comprehensive treatment of the changes the 1940 collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge has imposed on the design of suspension bridges. Designed as a historical narrative, this heavily illustrated book describes design trends before the collapse, the collapse itself and the investigations to determine its cause. The book goes on to examine subsequent aerodynamic and other design developments and their application in suspension bridges worldwide over the six decades following the collapse. "In the Wake of Tacoma" also provides a comprehensive reference work on suspension bridges in general, examining virtually every suspension bridge of note built in the past six decades, and highlighting overall development of the state of the art today. It goes beyond the major, well-known bridges to examine many small- and mid-span suspension bridges worldwide that have contributed significantly to the modern development of the form. Also covered are the engineering debates and engineers involved, and discussions of bridges under construction, under design, and new design concepts and materials to conquer the huge distances envisaged for such crossings as the Messina and Gibraltar straits. Presented in easy-to-understand, non-technical language, this book should appeal to both engineers and non-engineers with an interest in bridges and engineering in general.