Disasters Bridge Collapse Practice Test

What best describes progressive collapse?

Sequential failure of a structure from an initial local failure Collapse caused by environmental loads only Sudden collapse due to fire Localized buckling only

Correct Answer:

Sequential failure of a structure from an initial local failure

Explanation:

Progressive collapse is a chain-reaction failure that starts from a local flaw or damage in one part of a structure. When that part fails, the loads it was carrying must be taken by other members, which can become overloaded and fail in turn. That sequence can continue, causing large portions of the building or bridge to collapse even though the initial problem was localized. The key idea is the propagation of failure through load redistribution and insufficient redundancy, not just a single incident. It’s not simply environmental loads acting alone, not only a rapid fire event without propagation, and not merely localized buckling that stops after one element fails.

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