[go: up one dir, main page]
Scribd
Upload
76 views1 page

Case Study Lab Assignment

The Quebec Bridge collapsed due to a combination of factors including an inexperienced design engineer, changes made to the cantilever structure, and the chief engineer's decision to continue work despite orders to stop, resulting in the deaths of 75 workers. After the disaster, Theodore Cooper retired from engineering, while the chief engineer and P. L. Szlaka continued their roles at the Quebec Bridge Company. A second bridge was constructed but also collapsed in 1916, leading to further fatalities, and the wreckage of both bridges remains in the St. Lawrence River.

Uploaded by

bnguyen19062004
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
76 views1 page

Case Study Lab Assignment

The Quebec Bridge collapsed due to a combination of factors including an inexperienced design engineer, changes made to the cantilever structure, and the chief engineer's decision to continue work despite orders to stop, resulting in the deaths of 75 workers. After the disaster, Theodore Cooper retired from engineering, while the chief engineer and P. L. Szlaka continued their roles at the Quebec Bridge Company. A second bridge was constructed but also collapsed in 1916, leading to further fatalities, and the wreckage of both bridges remains in the St. Lawrence River.

Uploaded by

bnguyen19062004
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

October 7, 2022 Group Sewy Roen Ottahal

Set E Nhat Nguyen


Cat Kieu
Bao Nguyen

Quebec Bridge Case Study Analysis


Timeline of Events

Main Responsibility
There are 3 potential reasons why the bridge collapsed. The first one is the design that was made by the
inexperienced design engineer, P. L. Szlaka, and was not completed by spring 1905. The second reason is
the design of the cantilever structure was increased by 60m from the original by Theodore Cooper. The
last reason is the work was ordered to stop but the chief engineer of the Quebec Bridge company decided
not to stop and continued work. After the discussion, we concluded the chief engineer of the Quebec
Bridge company must take the main responsibility of the bridge collapse. For the first reason, P. L. Szlaka
just handed in late the blueprints of the design which may slow down the work process. For the second
reason, Theodore Cooper changed the dimension of the cantilever structure which potentially caused the
bridge to collapse, but when workers noticed distortions in the “compression members,” he had ordered
work to stop. However, the chief engineer continued to implement the design even though he was ordered
to stop. This led to the unexpected catastrophe, and 75 workers were killed.

Aftermath
Theodore Cooper withdrew from the engineering practice and lived out the rest of his life in retirement.
The chief engineer who ignored Cooper’s orders to stop continued his work at the Quebec Bridge
Company as well as Szlapka. After the collapse, the government took over construction of a second
bridge over the St. Lawrence which would be heavier than the first. The second bridge collapsed in 1916
from a “lifting apparatus” breaking causing the center part of the bridge to fall into the water killing 13
workers. The wreckage from both bridges sit next to each other in the St. Lawrence river to this day.

Pearson , C., & Delatte, N. (2006). (publication). Collapse of the Quebec Bridge, 1907. Reston, Virginia:
ASCE. https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1020&context=encee_facpub

You might also like