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Bridge 'wobble' blamed on walkers | Bridge 'wobble' blamed on walkers |
(about 1 hour later) | |
London's Millennium Bridge "wobbled" so much when it opened because of the way people walked across it, a study by civil engineers has claimed. | London's Millennium Bridge "wobbled" so much when it opened because of the way people walked across it, a study by civil engineers has claimed. |
The £18m Thames crossing was famously shut after two days in 2000 as police were worried it swayed so much. | The £18m Thames crossing was famously shut after two days in 2000 as police were worried it swayed so much. |
This was because people naturally move from side to side when walking rather than in a truly straight line, research at the University of Bristol suggested. | This was because people naturally move from side to side when walking rather than in a truly straight line, research at the University of Bristol suggested. |
The same problem arose on other bridges tested as part of the study. | The same problem arose on other bridges tested as part of the study. |
The 1,067ft (320m) crossing links St Paul's Cathedral on the north bank of the river to Tate Modern in the south. | |
It was designed by the architect Sir Norman Foster with sculptor Sir Anthony Caro. | It was designed by the architect Sir Norman Foster with sculptor Sir Anthony Caro. |
About 100,000 people used it on its inaugural weekend but many found it swayed alarmingly in the wind, leading engineers to conduct safety checks. | About 100,000 people used it on its inaugural weekend but many found it swayed alarmingly in the wind, leading engineers to conduct safety checks. |
The crossing, the first in more than a century, was designed by Lord FosterIt had been thought the structure's "wobble" was caused by having so many people walking at the same pace as each other, effectively moving in unison. | The crossing, the first in more than a century, was designed by Lord FosterIt had been thought the structure's "wobble" was caused by having so many people walking at the same pace as each other, effectively moving in unison. |
But the researchers in Bristol found that pedestrians' footsteps were never synchronised in this way because people naturally lean in different directions to maintain their balance. | But the researchers in Bristol found that pedestrians' footsteps were never synchronised in this way because people naturally lean in different directions to maintain their balance. |
When hundreds of people were crossing the bridge at the same time, their natural movements would contribute to the "wobble", the civil engineers said. | When hundreds of people were crossing the bridge at the same time, their natural movements would contribute to the "wobble", the civil engineers said. |
The study, published in the Royal Society journal Proceedings of the Royal Society A, tested other crossings, such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. | The study, published in the Royal Society journal Proceedings of the Royal Society A, tested other crossings, such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. |
It found the phenomenon occurred on different kinds of bridge design and so could not be blamed on the structures themselves. | It found the phenomenon occurred on different kinds of bridge design and so could not be blamed on the structures themselves. |