NC State engineer reflects on Baltimore bridge collapse, NC Ports offer help with supply chain network
An NC State engineer said they are looking at ways to make bridges safer and more effective and will look to learn from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
Posted — UpdatedAt the constructed facilities lab on NC State’s Centennial Campus, engineers are looking at ways to make bridges safer and more effective.
"A cargo ship impacting a bridge would be an incredibly rare and incredibly extreme event that would not be expected under normal circumstances," said Lucier. "You’re talking about an impact load, the ship being the load impacting the bridge, that ship is weighing on the order that the bridge is weighing."
“We want these structures to be cost effective, to be designed in a way that is efficient but also they must be safe," he said. "And they must be safe over their intended lifetime so the safety is not a negotiable part of the design.”
Part of that safety is considering how something might impact a bridge.
“Loads on the structure would be something factored in and also ways to protect or deflect a vehicle or a ship from critical components would be considered in the design as well,” he said.
“You’re talking about an impact load, the ship being the load impacting the bridge, that ship is weighing on the order that the bridge is weighing,” Lucier said.
The North Carolina State Ports Authority, which operates seaports out of Morehead City and Wilmington, offered a statement to WRAL News in light of the tragedy.
"Our thoughts are with the Port of Baltimore, the community, those directly impacted, and the first responders still engaged in the important search and rescue work," said NC Ports Executive Director Brian Clark. "We are monitoring the situation and are in close communication with our various partners, customers and port users as the situation continues to develop."
"Customers are now evaluating their supply chain options and NC Ports stands ready to assist and support the larger supply chain network as needed."
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