Hidden mechanisms that prevent the end of the bridge under destructive events

A team from the University of Polytechnica de Validia (UPV) and the University of Vego (UVigo) has just been published Nature The results of this study in which they have revealed that when a catastrophic event is affected by an effect or earthquake, bridges – especially steel transit bridges do not fall. And their results are similar to the behavior of the spider’s nets.

“We have shown that, just as spider’s nets can be adapted and trapped only after the spider’s nets are damaged, as well as bad steel transit bridges are still able to withstand even more burden under their normal circumstances, and it is not possible to eliminate it.

Bridge transport is the main elements of networks, and their elimination can have very serious consequences, including deaths and economic losses that can reach millions of euros for every day.

“In addition, despite the rapidly intense and unexpected natural events and climate change that is accelerating the deterioration of bridges, it is important to ensure that these structures will not fall after local failure. In this regard, we have developed our study.” Sub project at Vigo University.

So far, it is unclear that in some cases the initial failure of some elements spreads “inappropriately”, while in others, they barely affect the functioning of the bridge.

In his work, researchers at the University of Politanica de Valnesia and the University of Vigo have exposed the secondary mechanism and created their features that make these bridges more resistant. They create lasting resistance instead of falling.

“Thanks to this, we can understand how they can bear the burden after the initial failure of an element,” said Carlos Lizarro, the Principal investigator of the PONT3 sub -project in UPV.

Imitating and learning from nature: fom lizard in spider nets

The UPV and the UVigo team’s job provides new insights for the design of safe and more flexible bridges than the most events. It helps improving the strategy for monitoring, diagnosing and repairing existing bridges. In addition, their search can help to explain the new strength requirements for steel transit bridges.

“All this with a primary purpose: Improving the safety of these infrastructure, which are very important and broad in transport networks.

“This time, we have learned from the Spider web, which is similar to the steel translation bridges. We have compared our work with another study in which it has been published. Nature In 2012, which focused specifically on the spider’s nets, “Jose M. Adam ended.