A security camera gantry on a highway collapsed due to the failure of connecting bolts. The fault, detected after the collapse, originated from galvanic corrosion not visible to the naked eye, an electrochemical process between dissimilar metals. The incident forced the lane to be closed for several hours and has put maintenance teams on alert.
3D Pipeline with FARO Scene and Autodesk ReCap 🛠️
To document the collapse and analyze the causes, a workflow using a FARO laser scanner and the programs FARO Scene and Autodesk ReCap was employed. With Scene, the point clouds of the accident area were registered and cleaned. Then, in ReCap, the orthophoto and final 3D model were created, allowing precise measurement of deformations in the fractured bolts and the separation of the joints. This digital pipeline facilitated the expert assessment without physically intervening in the structure.
Bolts That Got Bored of Holding On 😅
The bolts, designed to withstand wind and weight, decided to go on strike out of chemical boredom. While no one was looking, the steel and aluminum started exchanging electrons in a toxic relationship. The result: a gantry that preferred to lie down and rest. At least now we know that galvanic corrosion also has a sense of humor, albeit a macabre one.