Epic Engineering Failures and the Lessons They Teach
TV Show · Documentary

Discover the very human issues that contributed to poor engineering decisions in three cases, with disastrous consequences.

2023 · 35m
Starring Stephen Ressler

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1
    Learning from Failure: Three Vignettes
    Discovering the human issues that contributed to poor engineering decisions in three cases, with disastrous consequences.
    35 min
  • EPISODE 2
    Flawed Design Concept: The Dee Bridge
    Discover how the collapse of the Dee Bridge in the mid-19th century, and the subsequent accident inquiry, led to improved bridge safety throughout England.
    37 min
  • EPISODE 3
    Wind Loading: The Tay Bridge
    Exploring the design and construction of the Tay Bridge and how the failure of one simple connection triggered a chain of events that brought down a 4,000-ton structure.
    37 min
  • EPISODE 4
    Rainwater Loading: Kemper Arena
    Following forensic engineers as they painstakingly analyze the Kemper Arena's design and identify four major factors that contributed to the roof's collapse.
    30 min
  • EPISODE 5
    Earthquake Loading: The Cypress Structure
    Exploring the complex effects of earthquakes on structures and learning the role resonance and sediment-induced amplification played in this catastrophe.
    37 min
  • EPISODE 6
    Vehicle Collisions: Land and Sea
    A look at if the Summit Venture freighter's collision with Tampa's Sunshine Skyway Bridge and the subsequent damage was an engineering failure, or an accident.
    32 min

Related

Cast & Crew

  • S‌R
    Stephen Ressler
    Host

About

Epic Engineering Failures and the Lessons They Teach

Documentary

Discover the very human issues that contributed to poor engineering decisions in three cases, with disastrous consequences.

Information

Studio
The Great Courses
Released
2023

Languages

Subtitles

English (United States) (SDH), German (Germany) (SDH), Spanish (Mexico) (SDH)

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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)