Progressive Collapse of Bridges

Previously, history recorded several disproportionate collapse incidents around the globe like the collapse of the Tacoma bridge. The sudden collapse of bridges can have devastating consequences, resulting in significant loss of life and economic disruption. Ordinary design procedures, which are usually limited to gravity and seismic/wind loads, are inadequate for preventing progressive collapse. This study examines progressive collapse in bridges, where localized damage triggers a chain reaction leading to catastrophic failures. It investigates the phenomenon of progressive collapse in bridge structures, emphasizing the importance of effective design strategies to prevent such failures. It also discusses the direct and indirect design methods, where the direct method focuses on enhancing the strength of key structural elements and creating alternate load paths, while the indirect method emphasizes maintaining overall structural integrity through simpler measures. The findings highlight that while bridges can withstand the loss of a single component, their resilience decreases significantly with the simultaneous loss of multiple components, particularly in critical areas. Ordinary design events, which are usually imperfect to gravity and seismic/wind loads, are insufficient for preventing progressive collapse. Therefore, a focus on establishment and retrofitting techniques to mitigate progressive collapse is necessary.