Flashcard on “Galloping Gertie"

Front

What caused the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to collapse on November 7, 1940?

Back

Strong winds.

Front

What happened to the model bridge when the wind blew?

Back

It twisted back and forth.

Front

Who was the engineer that investigated the Tacoma Narrows Bridge failure?

Back

Charles Ellis.

Front

What did engineers do to ensure the safety of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge?

Back

Built and tested a model of the bridge.

Front

Why was the Tacoma Narrows Bridge nicknamed 'Galloping Gertie'?

Back

It bounced and rippled like a galloping horse.

Front

What is the significance of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in engineering?

Back

It is a famous example of bridge failure due to aeroelastic flutter.

Front

What is aeroelastic flutter?

Back

A phenomenon where wind causes a structure to oscillate, potentially leading to failure.

Front

What role do engineers play in bridge design?

Back

Engineers design, test, and ensure the safety of bridges.

Front

What can strong winds do to a bridge?

Back

Strong winds can cause a bridge to sway, twist, or even collapse.

Front

What is a model bridge?

Back

A scaled-down version of a bridge used for testing and analysis.