Ultrasound and optical fibers reveal bridge changes invisible to naked eye

Executive Briefing & Key Highlights

Despite appearing intact on its exterior, the Carola Bridge in Dresden collapsed in 2024. How could this happen? "If you take a closer look, no bridge collapses without warning," says Dr. Mark Alexander Ahrens from the Institute of Concrete Structure at Ruhr University Bochum. "There are always symptoms leading up to it."