Safeguarding Our Lifelines: A Modern Approach to the Fracture Critical Bridge
Bridges are the silent arteries of our economy. They carry millions of commuters, transport essential goods, and connect communities every single day. We cross them with an implicit trust in their structural integrity. However, within our vast network of infrastructure lies a specific class of structure that demands our utmost attention: the fracture critical bridge . For engineers and asset managers, these two words carry immense weight. A fracture critical bridge is one designed with non-redundant steel members, meaning the failure of a single, crucial component could trigger a disproportionate, and potentially catastrophic, collapse of the entire structure. There is no backup system built into the design. Given the stakes, how can we move beyond outdated methods to ensure these vital lifelines are safe, not just today, but for decades to come? The answer lies in shifting from periodic inspection to predictive intelligence. The Limits of Looking: Why Traditional Inspections F...