Newswise — "The I-35W Bridge failure in Minneapolis was a terrible national tragedy. It can only be hoped that this tragedy will focus attention on the critical infrastructure need nationwide, especially as it pertains to deficient bridges. Deck trusses like the I-35W Bridge have hundreds of structural components, any one of which could have caused the bridge failure. An investigation spanning several months may be required to pinpoint which bridge component initiated the failure. I am certain that the repaving activities on the bridge will also be a focus of the investigation," said Dr. Ralph Alan Dusseau about the August 1 evening rush-hour collapse of the Interstate 35 West bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Dusseau is the Delaware River & Bay Authority professor and chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rowan University, Glassboro, N.J.
Dusseau earned his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Michigan State University. His master's thesis and doctoral dissertation both involved finite-element analysis of steel arch bridges. He spent 10 years as an assistant and associate professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Wayne State University.
An award-winning registered professional engineer, Dusseau is a member of numerous professional organizations and honor societies.
He has served as the principal investigator for the following research projects: 1) finite-element modeling and analysis of pipeline suspension bridges; 2) database development, field ambient vibration analysis and finite-element modeling and analysis of bridges in the Pacific Northwest; 3) database development and field ambient vibration analysis of bridges in the Central United States; 4) finite-element modeling and analysis, and laboratory testing of medium-duty transit buses; 5) photographic survey and field ambient vibration analysis of the Delaware Memorial Bridge; and 6) field ambient vibration analysis, finite-element modeling and earthquake analysis of the Betsy Ross, Walt Whitman and Ben Franklin Bridges as part of a Delaware River Port Authority project.
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