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Publications [#268191] of Henry Petroski

Papers Published

  1. Petroski, H, Akashi kaikyo bridge, American Scientist, vol. 97 no. 3 (May, 2009), pp. 192-196, Sigma Xi, ISSN 0003-0996 [doi]
    (last updated on 2023/06/01)

    Abstract:
    The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, located near Kobe, Japan, is considered as the largest suspension bridge that separates Honshu from the minor island of Awaji, off the eastern tip of Shikoku. The Akashi Strait is the widest, busiest, and most dangerous stretch, and the main cables of the bridge sits in the plaza between the anchorage and the relatively low and unimposing building housing the Bridge Exhibition Center. The center is a combination museum and orientation space and its roadway is reinforced by a steel truss that typically comprise of steel box girders with cantilevered wing-like appendages designed to cut through the wind. Akashi's tower is also fitted with tuned-mass dampers that incorporate large masses whose movement keep its deflection within acceptable bounds. The walkway in the bridge is enclosed with heavy-duty wide-mesh screens to allow an open outward view of the structure with an underdeck observatory as additional winning features.


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