Built to Fail: The Tacoma Narrows Bridge Disaster
Rick Stupart
This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.
They called it "Galloping Gertie." Four months later, it was gone.
On November 7, 1940, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge twisted itself to death in a moderate wind—and changed engineering forever.
This wasn't...
Location:
United States
Description:
This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. They called it "Galloping Gertie." Four months later, it was gone. On November 7, 1940, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge twisted itself to death in a moderate wind—and changed engineering forever. This wasn't an act of God. It was an act of arrogance. Built to Fail reveals how a "prettier" design, ignored warnings, and mathematical shortcuts created one of history's most spectacular engineering disasters. Engineer and author Rick Stupart dissects the deadly combination of aesthetic ambition and scientific negligence that turned a revolutionary suspension bridge into a cautionary tale. Inside, discover: This isn't just history—it's a warning. When engineers guess instead of calculate, gravity always wins. For readers fascinated by engineering failures, structural disasters, and the thin line between innovation and catastrophe. Duration - 9h 14m. Author - Rick Stupart. Narrator - Digital Voice Madison G. Published Date - Thursday, 02 January 2025. Copyright - © 2025 ELC Publishing ©.
Language:
English
Title Page
Duration:00:00:14
Introduction
Duration:00:10:46
Part I: The Dream and the Disaster
Duration:00:00:04
Chapter 1: The Narrows and the Need
Duration:00:22:57
Chapter 2: Visionaries and Bureaucrats
Duration:00:34:24
Chapter 3: The Design That Defied Convention
Duration:00:50:58
Chapter 4: The Bridge Comes Alive
Duration:00:16:51
Chapter 5: A Failure in Four Minutes
Duration:00:35:26
Part II: Anatomy of a Structural Catastrophe
Duration:00:00:05
Chapter 6: What They Knew—And What They Ignored
Duration:00:42:40
Chapter 7: Guessing in the Wind
Duration:00:46:37
Chapter 8: Human Factors and Hubris
Duration:00:50:34
Part III: Legacy, Reform, and Redemption
Duration:00:00:04
Chapter 9: Picking Up the Pieces
Duration:00:57:41
Chapter 10: Rebuilding with Rigor
Duration:00:21:31
Chapter 11: A Turning Point in Engineering
Duration:00:48:56
Chapter 12: Failures That Saved Lives
Duration:01:09:15
Chapter 13: Engineering in the Age of Simulation
Duration:00:18:20
Chapter 14: Built to Learn
Duration:00:26:48