Pedestrian Bridge Collapse in Miami, FL

On March 15, 2018, the partially constructed Florida International University (FIU) UniversityCity Pedestrian Bridge collapsed in Miami, Florida, fatally injuring 6 people, and injuring a further 10 people. The bridge collapsed several days after a 174-foot section had been rotated and moved into its final position after erection at its adjacent construction site. The bridge was unique for its single truss post-tensioned concrete design. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the cause of the collapse and studied numerous safety issues involving the design of the bridge and the evaluation of distress in the structure as it was being built. This talk will focus on the mechanisms of structural failure and errors made in the design of the bridge.