Understanding Bridge Collapses [Hardcover]

Bjorn Akesson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 13, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0415436230 | ISBN-13: 978-0415436236 | Edition: 1

In a straightforward style, this book presents a detailed overview of 20 cases of famous and other highly interesting bridge collapses over the last two centuries. Every case is illustrated and described in detail and the failure analyses made are supported by well-known explanations and, in some cases, by new theories. The chronological order makes it easy to follow the gradual development in the use of different bridge types and the choice of construction material. The increase of knowledge and experience in the structural engineering discipline over the years is clearly observable, although every modern engineer will admit that both fatigue and buckling are very complex phenomena and that knowledge about them can increasingly profit from studying past bridge construction projects failures. Intended for consulting engineers (bridges, steel and metal structures) and for advanced-level and postgraduate students in structural and bridge engineering.

Editorial Reviews

Review

‘This is truly a magnificent book. (…) I found reading this book to be a joy, and in fact I don't recall ever having enjoyed reading a bridge engineering book more than this one. (…) it's mandatory reading for all practicing bridge engineers. (…) My only lament is that the book isn't five times longer!’ – Irfan A. Alvi Towson, MD USA

About the Author

 

Björn Åkesson is a former lecturer at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. Currently he is a consulting engineer and the author of several books focusing on the design and analysis of steel structures, especially bridges. He also published Plate Buckling in Bridges and Other Structures, a comprehensive account of local buckling in bridges (Taylor & Francis, 2007).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 276 pages
• Publisher: CRC Press; 1 edition (May 13, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415436230
• ISBN-13: 978-0415436236
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #989,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Mandatory reading for all bridge engineers, September 5, 2010

By 

Irfan A. Alvi (Towson, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Understanding Bridge Collapses (Hardcover)

This is truly a magnificent book. The author, Bjorn Akesson, who is a bridge engineer with strong credentials both academically and professionally, investigates the collapses of 20 bridges of a variety of types from around the world. The collapses date from 1847 to 2003 and the book organizes their investigations chronologically.

The book is about 250 pages, which means that the investigations average about 12 pages each. In my opinion, this is an optimal length, since it gives Akesson enough space to meaningfully explore the causes and mechanisms of the collapses, including development of practical analytical models and presentation of key calculations, while avoiding burdening the reader with extraneous details which aren't really relevant to the lessons to be learned.

Although Akesson's non-native English takes a bit of getting used to, his discussion is plenty clear and I like the way his personality comes through. This clarity enables us to see that Akesson has excellent command of structural theory, as well as excellent intuition into structural behavior. It may seem odd to say this about a book dealing with collapses but, because of Akesson's analytical and expository skill, I found reading this book to be a joy, and in fact I don't recall ever having enjoyed reading a bridge engineering book more than this one.

I'll go beyond recommending this book, and will instead say that it's mandatory reading for all practicing bridge engineers. The only caveat is that I think some professional experience is needed in order to fully understand and benefit from the book.

Finally, let me express my enthusiasm for this book in another way. I read the book cover to cover, and will surely do so again. My only lament is that the book isn't five times longer!