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| Clip Title | Tacoma Narrows Bridge construction activity, diver leaping into water, ca. 1939 |
| Clip Summary | Construction workers and engineers, many wearing life vests, on platform. Man in diving suit leaps into water, is assisted in climbing back onto platform. Worker loosens diving suit using wrench; other workers help diver to remove suit. |
| Duration | 2 min., 37 sec. |
| Digital Format | Video |
| Original Source Title | Tacoma Narrows Bridge Construction Film Collection |
| Notes | The first Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened to traffic on July 1, 1940. It collapsed four months later on November 7, 1940, at 11:00 AM (Pacific time) due to a physical phenomenon known as aeroelastic flutter caused by a 67 kilometres per hour (42 mph) wind. The bridge collapse had lasting effects on science and engineering. In many undergraduate physics texts the event is presented as an example of elementary forced resonance with the wind providing an external periodic frequency that matched the natural structural frequency (even though the real cause of the bridge's failure was aeroelastic flutter[1]). Its failure also boosted research in the field of bridge aerodynamics/aeroelastics which have themselves influenced the designs of all the world's great long-span bridges built since 1940. |
| Subjects (LCSH) | Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Tacoma, Wash. : 1940)
Life jackets--Washington (State)
Diving suits--Washington (State)
Deep diving--Equipment and supplies
Bridges--Washington (State)
Bridges--Design and construction
Puget Sound (Wash.)
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| Genres (LCSH) | Documentary films
Nonfiction films
Film clips
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| Location Depicted | United States--Washington (State)--Tacoma Narrows
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| Date Created | ca. 1939 |
| Language | English |
| Digital Collection | Special Collections Moving Image Collection |
| Order Number | MV0042 |
| Ordering Info | To order a reproduction, inquire about permissions, or for information about prices see: http://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcollections/services/reproduction-info
Please cite the Order Number when ordering. |
| Repository | University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections Division |
| Repository Collection | University of Washington Audio Visual Services Materials Library, 94-4, VC74 |
| Digital Reproduction Information | Digital streaming QuickTime video file made from DVCAM master, by Special Collections at UW Media Center, Odegaard Library, on May 29, 2009, using Quick Time, version 7.6. |
| Rights | Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact the repository for details. |
