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- Riddle of the Tay Bridge disaster
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On December 28th 1879, the Tay Bridge collapsed as a train passed over it, killing all 75 passengers on board. At the time of this tragedy, the Tay Bridge was the longest bridge in the world, and to this day the accident remains the worst structural disaster the UK has ever seen. This album attempts to unlock the mystery of this catastrophe, through several plausible explanations and expert opinions. This material forms part of the course T173 Engineering the future.
By: The iTunes U team (The Open University,)
- Duration 35 mins
- Updated Thursday 11th February 2010
- Introductory level
- Posted under Engineering & Technology
Track 1: Riddle of the Tay Bridge disaster
A short introduction to this album.
© The Open University 2009
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Tracks in this podcast:
Track | Title | Description |
---|---|---|
1 | Riddle of the Tay Bridge disaster | A short introduction to this album. Play now Riddle of the Tay Bridge disaster |
2 | The history of the Tay Bridge | A look at how the Tay Bridge was developed and where it now stands historically. Play now The history of the Tay Bridge |
3 | The Tay Bridge Disaster | Open University professor, David Swinten reveals there was a violent storm on the evening of the bridge collapsing, while Eleanor Simpson shares a personal story about the tragedy. Play now The Tay Bridge Disaster |
4 | The Tay Bridge Investigation | Dr Denis Smith of Kirkcaldy Museum explains how the museum led an enquiry and discovered the bridge was poorly designed and constructed. A last minute alteration to the bridge is also investigated. Play now The Tay Bridge Investigation |
5 | Bill Dow's theory | Bill Dow has spent over a decade researching the Tay Bridge disaster, and here he shares his theory that the train de-railed through a combination of heavy wind and a weak girder. Play now Bill Dow's theory |
6 | Tom Martin's Tay Bridge analysis | Mathematician Tom Martin uses the modern method of 'structural computer analysis' to understand the failure of the bridge, and looks at how this failure started at the base columns due to heavy winds. Play now Tom Martin's Tay Bridge analysis |
7 | Forensic Engineering | Dr Pete Lewis explains how he believes the dynamic effects of vibration and the inappropriate use of cast iron, caused fatigue to the Tay Bridge and were responsible for its collapse. Play now Forensic Engineering |
8 | The Hatfield accident | Professor Roderick Smith explains the cause of the Hatfield accident while others look at how the flaws of the Tay Bridge are still used as lessons for today's engineers. Play now The Hatfield accident |
About the author
Publication details
-
Originally published: Thursday, 11th February 2010
Copyright information
- Body text - Content: Copyright The Open University
- Audio/Video tracks: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 The Open University 2009
- Image 'Riddle of the Tay Bridge disaster' - Copyright: The Open University 2009
- Image 'Tay Bridge disaster' - Copyright: Used with permission
- Image 'Forensic Engineering' - Copyright: Dundee City Council
- Image 'Tom Martin' - Copyright: Production team
- Image 'Fourth Bridge Close up' - By tpa on pixabay.com under Creative-Commons license
- Image 'Tay Bridge, collapsed' - Copyright: St Andrew's Valentine Collection
- Image 'One of the piers left standing after the Tay Bridge collapsed' - Copyright: Dundee Central Library
- Image 'The railway line leading up to the Tay Bridge' - Copyright: St Andrew's Valentine Collection
- Image 'Artist's impression of the Tay Bridge disaster' - Copyright: Dundee Central Library
- Image 'Lego buggy' - Copyright: The Open University
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