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Fluttering
Bridge is an interactive bridge failure demonstration, originally
modeled after the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse in Tacoma
Washington. Air is constantly blown perpendicular to the rubber
"bridge". The user can experiment by changing the
fan speed and pinching the rubber in different locations to
create different wave patterns. When the leading edge of the
band is pinched, to simulate an asymmetrical structure, it
causes the wind to unevenly flow past the band, causing it
to resonate. The resonance builds on each wave, increasing
the fluttering amplitude. Fan and Rubber Band is a fantastic
teaching tool for resonance and elastic vs. dampened structures,
especially relating to bridge design.
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