Engineering Catastrophes - Season 1 Page

The season opens by stripping away the illusion of permanence in our cityscapes. In episodes covering the collapse of massive bridges and skyscrapers, the narrative focuses on the "latent defect"—the hidden killer waiting for the right moment to strike. You see the terrifying footage of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge in Minneapolis, where a design flaw in the gusset plates—components that were too thin to handle the load—sent dozens of vehicles plunging into the water during rush hour. It serves as a grim reminder that even the most robust-looking structures can have a glass jaw. The Price of Speed and Hubris

Calculating for static loads but forgetting dynamic forces like wind or vibration. Engineering Catastrophes - Season 1

Using "substandard" steel or concrete that looks fine but lacks structural integrity. The season opens by stripping away the illusion