Abstract

The study concerns bridge collapses focusing on metal structures. It is based on literature and news research, due to the lack of extensive compendiums of this unpleasing but important topic. At first, a short overview of the occidental history of metal bridges is given presenting the historic context for the described incidents. It is followed by a classification of the most common causes of bridge failure, which include structural and design deficiencies, corrosion, construction and supervision mistakes, accidental overload and impact, scour, lack of maintenance or inspection, and force majeure. Some significant historic examples are described. Changes and investigations initiated by the described cases are also mentioned. The work concludes that without the disaster that represents each bridge collapse, we would have neither the structural behavior knowledge nor the relatively high safety of today.