Of course, most of us aren't prepared to see half-inch steel torn like toilet paper -- even along "perforations" (rows of rivet-holes)...
Thanks again!
BTW, did you follow my reasoning re my "lateral displacement" sketch? With all four gusset plates bent in the same direction, I perceived that as evidence of a lateral bias -- even if most of the distorting force was vertical (compressive). Am I wrong?
That is something that has always amazed and confused me. I got to see a lot of steel structures while in the Navy, but never gave it much thought. Rivet-heads and bolts/nuts three to four inches in diameter were pretty common. Other than the roller-nests on the piers, I don't see any other strain relief from one side to the other. While the overall expansion would only amount to an inch or two, could that enhance the 'buckle' in the faces of the gussets? I also looked through the photos to see if there was anything to give some type of scale; any that have men in them aren't in close enough proximity for a definitive comparison, but there are some to give an idea.
Something else in the back of my mind from seeing the very large dimensions of the girder structure -- anyone seen any info on braided components? One of the promises (ha!) that moving out into space and setting up manufacturing there could give us was enhanced structural members, and braided I-beams would be one third the size needed of solid rolled for the same carry capacity.