From the course: Universal Principles of Design

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Feedback loops

Feedback loops

From the course: Universal Principles of Design

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Feedback loops

- [Jill] Hi, I'm Jill Butler, and this is Universal Principles of Design. In this movie, feedback loops, or the importance of staying in the loop. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge was a suspension bridge built in 1940 in Washington state that spanned the Tacoma Narrows strait of Puget Sound. The bridge became famous for its tendency to undulate wildly in windy conditions, leading construction workers to name it, Galloping Gertie. So, what made Galloping Gertie gallop? The Tacoma Narrows employed a novel girder design for that time to support its roadbed. Previous bridge designs allowed air to pass through their support structures, but the I-beams used in Galloping Gertie were solid and redirected air flow above and below the roadbed. This caused the bridge to flex and sway in high winds. Now, it's important to note that all bridges flex and sway under loads like this, but they're designed to do so within strict limits, and then to flex back and quickly stabilize. Galloping Gertie had always…

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