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  • The Quebec Bridge Collapse August 29, 1907: By: Dan Ford

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    The Quebec Bridge collapse in 1907 was caused by design flaws and errors in judgment by the lead engineer, Theodore Cooper. The bridge was intended to span the St. Lawrence River but collapsed during construction, killing 75 workers. Cooper had lengthened the design and increased allowable stresses without testing. During building, the bridge exceeded its intended weight and parts became bent, yet construction continued. A commission later found Cooper's design and decisions at fault for the catastrophic failure.

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    Quebec Bridge

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    The Quebec Bridge collapse in 1907 was caused by design flaws and errors in judgment by the lead engineer, Theodore Cooper. The bridge was intended to span the St. Lawrence River but collapsed during construction, killing 75 workers. Cooper had lengthened the design and increased allowable stresses without testing. During building, the bridge exceeded its intended weight and parts became bent, yet construction continued. A commission later found Cooper's design and decisions at fault for the catastrophic failure.

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    32 views12 pages

    The Quebec Bridge Collapse August 29, 1907: By: Dan Ford

    Uploaded by

    syedainahmad
    The Quebec Bridge collapse in 1907 was caused by design flaws and errors in judgment by the lead engineer, Theodore Cooper. The bridge was intended to span the St. Lawrence River but collapsed during construction, killing 75 workers. Cooper had lengthened the design and increased allowable stresses without testing. During building, the bridge exceeded its intended weight and parts became bent, yet construction continued. A commission later found Cooper's design and decisions at fault for the catastrophic failure.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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    of 12

    The Quebec Bridge Collapse August 29, 1907

    By: Dan Ford

    Purpose for the bridge


    The St. Lawrence River became a barrier

    to east-west transportation Montreals success was appealing So in 1887, the Quebec Bridge Company was formed

    The Hired Help

    The Phoenix Bridge Company of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania was given the contract The Head Engineer of the project was Theodore Cooper - One of the most respected bridge builders at the time

    The Original Design

    Cantilever superstructure with two main supports placed 1600 feet apart Weighed a total of 62 million pounds Cooper said that this would be the best and cheapest plan and proposal

    A Change in Plans

    Before construction was to begin Cooper lengthened the span from 1600 ft to 1800 ft He also modified specifications that would allow for higher unit stresses There was no preliminary tests or research studies conducted to check these design changes

    Construction

    Erection of the superstructure got underway in the summer of 1904 Due to Coopers health issues he only visited the site of the bridge 3 times This left a lack of authority on the construction site

    Troubles During Construction

    The actual weight of steel put into the bridge had far exceeded the original weight compressive chords 7-L and 8-L of the south cantilever arm were bent On August 27, 1907, it was reported that the deflection in chord 9-L had increased from threequarters of an inch out of line to two and onequarter inches in just a weeks time Yet construction continued!!

    The Collapse: August 29, 1907

    Reasons for failure

    Financial troubles with the Quebec Company - Inaccurate theoretical estimates of the bridge's weight - Unchecked changes i.e. Coopers highregard

    The Aftermath

    Of the 86 men who were still on the bridge at the time of the collapse only 11 survived The Royal Commission attributed the failure to defective design and errors in the judgment of Theodore Cooper Coopers career ended, and as a result he retired from public life and died in his home on August 24, 1919, at the age of eighty.

    The End

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