Since this group recently discussed whether resonant oscillations led
to the destruction of the Tacoma Narrows bridge, I thought you might be
interested in knowing that the current issue of Invention and
Technology (which I got today) has an article about this.
It does not describe the situation in as much physics detail as we
might want, but it is a good read and discusses why this bridge had
problems and why other bridges have or have not had similar problems.
I found it interesting.
Michael D. Edmiston, Ph.D. Phone/voice-mail: 419-358-3270
Professor of Chemistry & Physics FAX: 419-358-3323
Chairman, Science Department E-Mail edmiston@bluffton.edu
Bluffton College
280 West College Avenue
Bluffton, OH 45817