"When he was thinking about how to build a bridge across the River Tweed, Sir Samuel Brown stopped while observing a spider s web. Right at this time he discovered the suspension bridge." Charles Bender, 1868. The English translation of Tadaki Kawada s landmark book traces the modern suspension bridge from its earliest appearance in Western civilization only 200 years ago to the enormous Akashi Kaikyo and Storebælt bridges completed at the end of the twentieth century. History of the Modern Suspension Bridge: Solving the Dilemma between Economy and Stiffness examines the conflicts, the bridge collapses, the colorful personalities, and the advancements that have shaped the development of the suspension bridge. From John Roebling and the Brooklyn Bridge to the legendary rivalry between Othmar Ammann and David Steinman, from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse in 1940, which Kawada explores in depth, to the closing of London s Millennium Bridge just three days after its opening, this book is a complete history of the modern suspension bridge with a focus on the two essential factors in suspension bridge design, economy and stiffness, which are always in competition with one another. How do engineers reinforce the suspension bridge against the elements of wind and traffic, without sacrificing economy? History of the Modern Suspension Bridge: Solving the Dilemma between Economy and Stiffness will appeal to anyone interested in engineering history and suspension bridges. Practicing engineers will find the charts, tables, and design formulas especially valuable. About the authors: Tadaki Kawada, Ph.D., is a renowned engineer and bridge designer who has designed some of the world s longest suspension bridges. He served as president and CEO of Kawada Industries, Tokyo, and is currently on the board of directors. Harukazu Ohashi, Ph.D., (translator) is an executive officer of Nippon Engineering Consultants Co., Ltd., of Tokyo and previously held positions with the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority in Japan and Parsons Corporation in New York. Richard Scott (editor) is a waterway heritage planner for Parks Canada, where he is currently responsible for planning along the Trent-Severn Waterway. He is the author of In the Wake of Tacoma (ASCE Press, 2001).

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1922 Edition.

The first English textbook dedicated to the topic, this 1832 publication describes the history, purpose and construction of suspension bridges.

In the Wake of Tacoma is the first comprehensive treatment of the changes that the 1940 collapse of the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge has imposed on the design of suspension bridges. Written as a historical narrative, this heavily illustrated book describes design trends before the collapse, the collapse itself, and the investigations to determine its cause. The book then examines subsequent aerodynamic and other design developments and their application in suspension bridges worldwide in the decades following the collapse. In the Wake of Tacoma is a comprehensive reference work on suspension bridges in general, examining virtually every suspension bridge of note built in the past sixty years and highlighting overall development of the state of the art today. It goes beyond the major, well-known bridges to examine many small and mid-span suspension bridges worldwide that have contributed significantly to the modern development of the form. Also covered are the engineering debates and engineers involved; discussions of bridges under construction and under design; and new design concepts and materials to conquer the huge distances envisaged for such crossings as the Messina and Gibraltar straits. Presented in easy-to-understand, nontechnical language, this book, which received the 2006 Publication Award from the Japan Association for Wind Engineering, should appeal to both engineers and nonengineers with an interest in bridges and engineering in general. About the Author Richard Scott is a waterway heritage planner for Parks Canada, where he is currently responsible for palnning along the Trent-Severn waterway. He is also the editor of History of the Modern Suspension Bridge: Solving the Dilemma between Economy and Stiffness (ASCE Press, 2010). Product Reviews ...An outstanding history of suspension bridges focusing on post-Tacoma spans... In the Wake of Tacoma is extremely visual and written in a style that makes it accessible, exciting and interesting to both engineers and the general public. It is a masterful study- well researched, written, and illustrated. --Eric DeLony, Chief, Historic American Engineering Record, National Park Service