tallbridgeguy

From an old article. I think posting by iPhone may be my future!

Here

Are you a 99 percenter?

I would assume most engineers are in the 99% economic category but what I am talking about is being in the 99% of bridge designers. Meaning, for the most part, we design bread and butter bridges. We are not the ones designing the cable stayed, suspension, glass, arched, one of a kind bridges, those designs fall to the 1% crowd. Our designs would fall in the “practical” category.

This is not a bad thing, unlike the income inequality thing (liberal bias showing), but it is interesting that we have heroes like other professions. Would Calatrava be our Gehry? Would Christian Menn be our Beckham? (Maybe I should show up at work covered in white paint to show my support for Calatrava!)

What do you think, does looking up at the pinnacle projects and designers inspire you or do they make you feel a little inadequate? (I have to say I sometimes look at the cool projects with a wistful smile.)

On a side note.

Hey HP, Mark, David……how about combining forces on a “super” bridge blog? You can add posts anytime you would like on any subject? I think we could rule the bridge blog world…….just a thought.

So, what to do with this blog. I am of the opinion it may have run it’s course.

Some random thoughts.

1) say “so long and thanks for all the fish”.
2) close it down
3) post once/twice a week.
4) find more help.

I was thinking for #4, I could try to find contributors, to help post. Maybe some students, engineers, etc?

What do you think?

Great bridge from David. (thanks!)

A lightweight aluminium footbridge 53 metres long is placed by helicopter (spectacular scenery):

Note in the last photo entitled “bridge in place”, just after placing and before installing the deck, the bottom chord consists only of 4 cables to keep the weight down. The gorge crossed by the footbridge is “up to 600 metres deep” although the waterfall near the bridge has a free fall of “only” 140 metres. A bungee jumping point is provided.

More pictures here.

Infrastructure

I received an email from Infrastructure USA. I don’t know much about them but I believe they are an advocacy group for infrastructure. Can anybody tell me more about them?

Here is a bridge article on their site.

Highestbridge.com

I received an email from Eric, who is planning a trip to China. Some info and great pictures here and here.

I posted an online Photo Album of the 3 week trip that you can look at below.  I am now planning another China bridge trip to visit nearly all the crossings of the Yangtze River plus several more in the Shanghai region.  Like the 2011 high bridge adventure, the 2012 trip would be 3 weeks through much of western China.

This is arguably the most ambitious bridge trip ever undertaken with regard to visiting long span bridges.  We will attempt to visit some 80 spans in 22 days but the good part is there will be at least 1,500 kilometers less driving which will allow us to spend more time visiting more bridges each day and less time trying to get from one bridge to the next one as we had to do on the 2011 trip.  Our only real enemy is the weather.

I have reengineered my marshmallow bridge, thanks to some good comments from across the pond. ( thanks David and HP!)

I have stiffened the connection with gumdrops and added some better bracing.

I have also started developing a river scene that I will layout for the kids. They can build bridges across the river and gumdrop towers along the banks.

Hopefully this new bridge will meet the US Gumdrop bridge standards!

Thanks David and HP!

I have been suffering from the winter blues and a lack of blogging motivation. I was asked to help some elementary school kids learn about engineering. So marshmallow bridges, loaded with pennies.

I have been suffering through a cold lately which is perfect timing for the holiday season. I have also been playing a bit more with Gimp (not the Gimp) a photoshop type free program. I think I over did it but it is faster than doing a full 3d render.

Right click and open in new window for large view….if your really bored. This is a bridge I actually designed.

Thanks David for the link.

Some great pictures of the supporting under garments of the London Tower Bridge.

Daily Mail