a suspension bridge allowing free passage under the bridge over the full width of the river.
The risk of ship collision was thus treated by a mitigation measure.
Figure 1.8: Tjörn bridge after collision with a ship in January 1980.
1.7 A Review of Reported Failures
The experiences from failure of technical installations and activities in general provide a
valuable knowledge base. First of all, this information gives an overview of the safety and
reliability of such installations and activities as performed in accordance with the present or
past engineering practice and therefore, also gives indications as to where this might be
improved. Furthermore, if studied carefully the information may provide an understanding of
the important hazard scenarios for different types of installations and possible hazards. Thus,
a basis is provided for studying the associated risks in more detail and not least understanding
how risk treatment may be efficiently implemented.
Therefore, in the following an overview is given mainly based on the research of Matousek
and Schneider (1976) and Stewart and Melchers (1997) concerning the dominating sources of
risks for
Building and bridge structures
Dams
Offshore structures
Pipelines
Nuclear power plants
Chemical facilities.
Failures of Building and Bridge Structures
Based on a total of 800 reported failures and errors leading to accidents and/or damages from
the area of structural engineering, Matousek and Schneider (1976) have reported a detailed
review of causes and how the failures and errors might have been counteracted by adequate
means of risk treatment measures.