A bridge may fail for any number of reasons.
Reasons why a bridge may fail:
(1) poor design or construction
(2) substandard materials
(3) unsuitable site
(4) load that exceeds design (heavier than expected trucks, etc))
(5) extreme weather (high wind, tornado or hurricane)
(6) earthquake
(7) human intervention (vandalism, warfare, terrorism)
(8) inadequate maintenance and repair with deterioration of structural support
(9) old age
(10) extreme harmonics
(11) debris flow
Structural Support
Cause for Deterioration
cable or other suspension method
salt or rain water, impact (plane, etc), loss of anchoring pier
pylon
erosion of base, rust, burrowing creatures, runaway barge or boat
beam
corrosion, rivets, cracks
concrete
salt, poor materials, weather, excessive use
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Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
