Natural calamities like cyclones and earthquakes have a sudden and devastating impact. On the other hand, the losses caused by corrosion often have a tantamount but inconspicuous impact. Several catastrophic failures are discussed, and sound-corrosion management practices are outlined. On December 15,1967, the U.S. Highway 35 bridge connecting Point Pleasant, West Virginia and Kanauga, Ohio suddenly collapsed into the Ohio River. This bridge was better known as the "Silver Bridge" because it was the country's first aluminum painted bridge; the failure is shown in Figure 1. At the time of failure, 37 vehicles were crossing the bridge span, and 31 of those automobiles fell with the bridge. Forty six individuals perished and nine were seriously injured. Along with the numerous fatalities and injuries, a major transportation route connecting West Virginia and Ohio was destroyed, disrupting the lives of many and causing concern across the nation. The cause of failure was attributed to a cleavage fracture in the lower limb of eye-bar 330 at joint G13N of the north eye-bar suspension chain in the Ohio-side span. The fracture was caused from a minute crack formed during the casting of the steel eye-bar. Over the years, stress corrosion and corrosion fatigue allowed the crack to grow, causing the failure of the entire structure.
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