Could the Baltimore Bridge have been saved? YES!

[@WilliamPozo]

Your video is spot on. When a port of call is expanded, the feds should carefully review all expansion applications - and include a process- to priortize all capital assets including protection of them within the affected area. Not just the migrating birds or seals.

[@lowercherty]

The port of Duluth MN had three out of control incidents resulting in two groundings and one bridge pier strike in the last 10 years. They have about 1000 ship movements in 9 months. All three ships were among the largest on the Great Lakes at 70,000 tons each. There was no serious damage, other than the Captain's pride. In Baltimore the rock islands were too small and the dolphins were way too far out to protect the bridge.

[@TylerLey]

Thanks for sharing this! I agree with you. A more significant bridge protection system was needed.

[@fredericrike5974]

Tyler, you and Sal Mercogliano of "What's Happening with Shipping" ought to have a great panel on this- his beat is shipping and ship related, he knows the players well.

[@elbuggo]

1:06 - Kinetic energy for this crash: 100 000t x 5.14m/s = kinetic energy 1323 Mega Joule. That is the same energy as if a 36t truck fell from an altitude of 12,293 ft. The Apollo Command Module had a speed of 11.2km/s and a weight of 5486kg when it entered the atmosphere after having traveled from the Moon. The kinetic energy there was 345 Giga Joule, or 260 times more kinetic energy than for this crash. This ship would have needed to travel in a speed of 186 mile/hour to get as high kinetic energy as the Apollo module had when it re-entered the atmosphere.

[@TylerLey]

Thanks for sharing!

[@NickJuliano-W1NRJ]

I don’t think that’s surprising. Energy is proportional to the square of velocity; hypersonics have insane energy. Momentum is linear and so large mass has greater effect

[@elbuggo]

@@NickJuliano-W1NRJ What's really surprising is that the space ship could convert all that kinetic energy and land in the Pacific within 15 minutes, a stone throw from President Nixon, without burning up. That's surprising, if you can make yourself believe it.

[@JELWwL6unE8V7iGB3]

Thank you very much for making this video. When I see failures like this, I often think that something preventative could have been done, so it's good to hear what, specifically, that thing is, and that an overall template for the engineering exists. What I have to wonder about is the design of the permitting process. When the regulations were being changed, the permitting process should have required all the necessary modifications prior to the permit being granted. This process either was inadequatly designed regarding its primary objective, or it was too easy to subvert.

[@nicolasdifalco]

Hi Tayler, have you made a video talking about concrete exudation? You know, when the water starts to rise. I am a big fan of your videos, they help me understand more about concrete technology where I study in Argentina.

[@KR-ne1eb]

I love your videos and you have successfully turned me into a Concrete Freak! Prayers to the Victims and thier families. I think your view on the situation was extremely fair and useful in helping to prevent more tragic events with Bridges and Ships

[@sheikhsadi8605]

"Make them safe enough" do more about modern earthquake resistant building. Grate video learned a lot

[@TylerLey]

Thanks a bunch! I will see what I can do.

[@innocentbystander2673]

Oh but...those dolphin upgrades would have been really expensive. Wink.

[@articowl2]

Dr Ley, love your outreach and insights. When designing mooring systems for large bulk Carriers/container ships I always approached the problem by the kinetic energy and then energy absorption through deformation. You may have been simplifying for the general audience. BTW The reactive forces get very large. The slow 10 mph you describe would be very fast considered an aberrant landing that would be rare and you were going to destroy something, try to do it in a semi controlled repairable way. Typical landing would be closer to 2 mph. Besides the obvious structural solutions of carefully designed sacrificial energy absorbing structures I think the overseers need to carefully consider mandatory tug assist and reduced speed limits inside these harbors. Oil tankers with tug assist out of prince william sound have virtually eliminated the problem of running aground.

[@yodaiam1000]

The Dolphins and rock islands get so large, they can have a major effect on the hydrology of an area. It is not always straightforward as to what to do. Some ports have escort tugs as another solution to the issue.

[@basimaltemimi8256]

I agree with you Doctor. I believe economy is the answer why no bridge protection system was updated. In addition, someone "top" in charge didn't know his responsibility. So the problem is Economy+Incompetency

[@josephp4031]

Absolutely agree. The port should have built a modern bridge protection system in parallel with thr expansion. They're benefiting the most and clearly wanted to save a buck.

[@negativerush]

But the money was there for the upgrade it just some how ended up in politicians pockets.

[@TylerLey]

Thank you for the comment

[@MrRICHARDGOMEZ]

Thank you very much for sharing your ideas.

[@fist5]

Arch-Shaped Bridge I believe constructing an arch-shaped bridge over this section would be a more feasible approach. With an arch bridge, we can increase the span length and create a more robust design. The construction cost of dolphins is being phased out and an arch bridge minimizes the environmental impact on water resources.

[@ehsnils]

I'd say that a suspension bridge is a lot better. In 1980 there was an accident involving an arch shaped bridge (Almöbron) in Sweden that is quite similar to this accident, but it was the bridge part of the ship that did hit the arch which in turn resulted in several deaths of vehicles trying to cross the missing bridge in the dark. The dolphins are as I see it the last line of defense, but even before they come into play it's worth to look at deflecting and slowing down ships going off course before they reach the dolphins by using crumpling underwater obstacles.

[@jarrydgolden3654]

How was the superstructure of the bridge not considered an arch?! The fact that it was an arch contributed to the full collapse of the main truss span. No bridge design would preclude the necessity of dolphins or some other version of protection of the main columns near the channel. A cable stay would likely be the most economical bridge design. A suspension bridge is not feasable bc it'd require large counter weights constructed in the river. Diamond shaped dolphins like those around the power line towers seem like the most effective solution.

[@fist5]

​@@jarrydgolden3654 The bridge in Baltimore was built considering Working state method. The span length of girders are much smaller than the modern bridges. I mean if the bridge is to be reconstructed, we can add up more robust arch sections with considerably longer spans using Limit state design procedures. Cable stayed bridge are difficult to construct on already existing foundation of the bridge. Simply remove the Middle piers that supported the collapsed Steel arch section, Enhance the capacity of outer piers to take up additional compressive load from arch and construct a longer span arch bridge. Adding dolphins may sound better on short term but while expanding the port to handle more logistics in a long run, additional construction work in bridge may be required . Check out I-35W bridge in Minneapolis.

[@blockisle9]

Great video! Love your stuff

[@nickanseyedsalehi1906]

Thanks, please leave more videos on this channel.

[@TylerLey]

Thank you!

[@pavelnikulin8240]

Barriers can have positive buoyancy too, relying just on their mass, and size. Foam concrete filled steel floats.

[@TylerLey]

Thanks for this! You are right that there are other types of bridge protection systems that can absorb energy. Most engineers want to make something pretty big and massive to make sure that they stop whatever tries to come for the bridge.

[@1HighVoltage1]

The function of the dolphins, is it to really stop the ship or also to divert the out of control ship like the bumpers in a pinball machine?

[@cosmopezzolla996]

Great video Tyler. It seems crazy that they did that much expansion and no one thought about a bridge accident.... I'm sure those people were there but we all know those people were ignored for 💰. It's a shame for the families who lost there loved ones. Anyway here's a comment, I hope it helps navigate this video to the right people for you! Thanks for the analysis!

[@nills2gills811]

Onto something (suspicious)

[@adaptedbythedans]

Just make them mandatory or disallow traffic crossing while a ship is passing through.

[@adaptedbythedans]

Government is incompetent. After review of local deck plans in my local jurisdiction, 75% of the APPROVED plans did not meet code.

[@johannjohann6523]

Tight bay, too much drinking = disaster. Really a shame there had to be people on the bridge during the collapse. Our hearts go out to you.

[@hippo-potamus]

The ship didn’t even honk its horn to warn? The official story doesn’t add up.

[@pauld8839]

The Dali came at an angle that bypassed the dolphin entirely. Changing the size of that element wouldn't help. Following its loss of power, the Dali began to veer sharply.

[@TylerLey]

If the dolphin was placed closer to the column like the example in Delaware then it would have stopped the boat.

[@peetky8645]

good points

[@NickJuliano-W1NRJ]

Do you have an X account? Sharing and want to tag you. Love your concrete series. Great analysis here. Thanks

[@TylerLey]

I do but I don't use it that much: Tyler Ley (@Tyler_Ley_OSU)

[@leocomerford]

@@TylerLey It would be nice to see you on Bluesky at some point, if you have the will to take on another social network.

[@yodaiam1000]

Good video but your return period for earthquake design was quite a bit off. It is now 2% in 50 years for most modern codes which equates to about 1 in 2475 year return period.

[@ScooterFXRS]

Most safety regulations are written in blood. Most incidents are created by malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance.

[@patkonelectric]

A off question for this video. Who here is a expert on SCC aggregate? I have a question I can't find an answer to.

[@hgbugalou]

Agree with what you said. This was a complete failure by the engineers. Some may claim the system failed, and thats true to a point, but engineers have a duty to speak up when they see a potential risk. I am hoping the crew of the ship is not scapegoated into being to blame as thus far based on analysis but those in the shipping industry, it looks like this was a freak occurrence and an accident. The captain also saved lives by accepting the problem and calling the police to block the bridge. As Joey Swolls says, we need to do better. What you are suggesting is a reasonable start.

[@elbuggo]

As I see it, the bridge owner has the primary responsibility for the bridge's welfare.

[@mrfrenzy.]

I would say it was a failure by politicians, not engineers.

[@TylerLey]

Thanks for the comment! I hope we learn more about what was said. i think a more formal process would have helped this situation.

[@TylerLey]

@@elbuggo I agree but they are only part of the situation. If your neighbors change their yard to send a bunch of water towards your house should you be the only one responsible to protect your house? They changed the situation and so they are responsible.

[@elbuggo]

@@TylerLey If your neighbors change their yard to send a bunch of water towards your house - you have to tell them that that is not ok. If you don't tell them, they will or can assume it is ok.

[@moadgorbag8490]

Bravo

[@yevgenyzlotchenko6275]

There is only one problem - money...

[@alejandroalayon320]

Yes indeed, its being sent to ukraine and illegals 😮‍💨

[@TylerLey]

The port produces billions to the economy. The bridge protection system is expensive but so is digging out a port. This isn't a big expense. There is a reason that so many other ports have bridge protection systems.

[@sfh422]

While I advocate for smaller government I agree with you regarding the expansion of ports.

[@damianm-nordhorn116]

What exactly would you want smaller or gone? There may be some areas of government that aren't absolutely necessary, but most of it is and people wouldn't want to experience life without these very useful areas of government.

[@TylerLey]

Thank you!

[@larrytinnin3357]

I think architects need to oversee engineers and local building departments then these mistakes would be much less

[@Omenowl]

Architects? Really? Engineers tend to design against architects to make sure things are safe. They need actuaries and engineers who publicly release the risk assessments and assumptions to be reviewed. Then show what the cost would be for collapse of the bridge and yearly insurance costs for failure.

[@lanzji1345]

Architects? Of all fucking people, architects? Why not road sweepers?

[@larrytinnin3357]

@@lanzji1345 awww. Your a road sweeper? You’re right, you would be better at bridge design……. Or more specifically, designing a bridge to withstand millions of pounds of side impact forces… then what happens in 20 years WHEN ships are larger than what you designed for, actually at what point do you stop designing for side impact, maybe at 7 trillions pounds? The a ship can’t knock it down until the Chinese build a 7.1 trillion pound ship…. Where all my road sweepers at?

[@JuanCGray]

A rehashing of partial facts, personal opinions, and useless figures; the most accurate statement he makes is "I don't know".

[@hector.abrach]

You are crazy and onto something. But for different reasons.

[@LuminairPrime]

💯💯💯💯💯

[@dennisbethards3231]

It was done on purpose

[@maagu4779]

What happened? CORRUPTION = POLITICIANS + MONEY. MR ENGINEER, FOLLOW THE MONEY!