Re: Sydney Harbour Bridge Questions

[billboltonREMOVE-TO-EMAIL@computer.org (Bill Bolton)]

markbau1@aol.comQQQQyuk (MarkBau1) wrote:

> They opened the whole bridge to pedestrian traffic for the first time ever as
> part of the celebrations. At that time it was said that if EVERY person on the
> bridge jumped up at the same time the bridge would collapse! I have no idea if
> this was true but a structural engineer made this statement in a Sydney
> newspaper at the time.

The issue of harmonic motion and bridge structures is well known, and
is why military marches are instructed to break step when crossing
bridges.  However it has zip to do with basically static loads, such
as bridges normally experience, or with load deflection tests.

Cheers,

Bill