# Disaster Strikes on the Wobbly Bridge | The London Millennium Bridge #22

- Show: [Hard Tech Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast)
- Published: 2024-09-01
- Length: 8m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-09-01-disaster-strikes-on-the-wobbly-bridge-the-london-millennium-bridge-22
- Listen: https://rss.com/podcasts/hardtechpodcast/1635911

## Summary

The host discusses the London Millennium Bridge, designed by Norman Foster and Arup, which suffered from synchronous lateral excitation on its opening day in 2000 due to pedestrian footfall matching the bridge's natural frequency. The incident was resolved by installing 91 dampers, including 52 tuned mass dampers and 37 viscous dampers, to absorb kinetic energy and stabilize the structure. The episode highlights the engineering lesson regarding the interaction between human behavior and flexible structural design.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-09-01-disaster-strikes-on-the-wobbly-bridge-the-london-millennium-bridge-22#t=0) Introduction: The Millennium Bridge Wobble
- [1:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-09-01-disaster-strikes-on-the-wobbly-bridge-the-london-millennium-bridge-22#t=81) Harmonic Resonance and Synchronous Lateral Excitation
- [1:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-09-01-disaster-strikes-on-the-wobbly-bridge-the-london-millennium-bridge-22#t=81) Design Choices by Norman Foster and Arup
- [6:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-09-01-disaster-strikes-on-the-wobbly-bridge-the-london-millennium-bridge-22#t=395) Engineering Solution: Installing Dampers

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- London Millennium Bridge (product)
- Norman Foster (other)
- Arup (company)
- Tacoma Bridge (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep086: News Overflow, Formula 1/3 Racer, Stand Up Rubber Duckies, and Useless Machine Takes a Turn](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-09-25-ep086-news-overflow-formula-1-3-racer-stand-up-rubber-duckies-and-useless-machin) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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