A structural engineer models a bridge with 64 support columns. After seismic retrofitting, 25% more columns are installed for redundancy. How many columns are there post-retrofit?

Sun, 03 May 2026 12:12:57 +0000

Title: Enhancing Bridge Safety: Understanding the Impact of Seismic Retrofitting on Structural Column Count When designing and strengthening critical infrastructure like bridges, structural engineers constantly evaluate safety standards, especially in seismically active regions. A compelling example involves a bridge initially supporting 64 load-bearing columns, which undergoes seismic retrofitting to improve its resilience against earthquakes. After the retrofit, engineers implement redundancy measures—an essential strategy to ensure the structure remains stable even if some components fail. In this case, the retrofit requires installing 25% more support columns than the original count. So, how many total columns are in the bridge after upgrading? ### Calculating the Increased Number of Columns