BCT 100 Overview of the Construction Industry. Structural Failure (continued) Strength of Materials Failure Engineering / Design Error Poor Construction

BCT 100

Overview of the Construction Industry

Structural Failure (continued) • Strength of Materials Failure

• Engineering / Design Error

• Poor Construction

• Unauthorized Substitution

• Loadings Applied that were not Considered

Three Examples• John Hancock Tower, Boston

• Hyatt Regency Hotel, Kansas City

• Citicorp Tower, New York City

• John Hancock Tower, Boston Pei Cobb Freed Associates, Architects

• Hyatt Regency Hotel, Kansas City

• Citicorp Tower,

• New York City

• Photo with plywood for windows

• Kansas City Hyatt Regency, 1981




• 1. Undersized Structural Members


• 2. Substitution of Design without Check

• Citicorp Tower in NYC

• Citicorp Tower in NYC sits on four huge columns that are not at the corners

• Citicorp Tower in NYC. Every eight floors is supported by a huge truss.

• Citicorp Tower

• Under Construction

• Note the Truss Construction on the Tower Shaft

• The Engineer, William LeMessurier

• Catastrophic Structural Failure

• Catastrophic Structural Failure

• Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Tacoma, WA

• Galloping Gertie

• Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Tacoma, WA• Opening Day Ceremony

• Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Tacoma, WA• High Winds Cause Oscillation in the Bridge Deck

• Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Tacoma, WA• High Winds Cause Oscillation in the Bridge Deck

• Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Tacoma, WA• Bridge Design Magnifies Oscillation.• Bridge Tears Itself Apart

• Charles de Gaulle International Airport• Paris, France• Reinforced Concrete ‘Tube’ Structure

• Charles de Gaulle International Airport• Paris, France• Exterior Glass Cladding

• Charles de Gaulle International Airport• Paris, France• Reinforced Concrete ‘Tube’ Structure• Section thru Terminal Building




• Charles de Gaulle International Airport

• Paris, France

• Reinforced Concrete ‘Tube’ Structure


• L’Ambiance Plaza, Bridgeport, CT

• L’Ambiance Plaza, Bridgeport, CT

• Structural Failure usually occurs surprisingly quickly

• Slight changes in design or installation can mean the difference between success and….

• Structural Collapse

• Hartford Coliseum, Hartford CT• Roof Collapse

• Hartford Coliseum, Hartford CT• Roof Collapse

• B and O Railway Roundhouse • Roof Collapse due to snow load

• Understanding prevailing winds and snow loading



• Ice Accumulation on a telecommunications tower in Kansas

• Snow and Ice Damage on a smaller scale

• Water Infiltration as a demolition tool

• Minneapolis MI Freeway Bridge



• Adequate Consideration Prior to Work Being Done Can Prevent This


• Who said “Just Put it Up There”


• Demolition Workers Caused This


• Demolition Workers Caused This

• If Given Options, Consider Where You Build

• Don’t Be Afraid to Second Guess your Design Team and Ask Questions

• MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

• No Sprinkler System Installed. 85 Dead, Hundreds Injured

• Don’t Be Afraid to Second Guess your Design Team and Ask Questions

• MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

• No Sprinkler System Installed. 85 Dead, Hundreds Injured

• Some Building Collapses are intentionally engineered

• Las Vegas Seems to Do This on a Regular Basis

• Desert Inn Hotel, Las Vegas Nevada

• The Sands Hotel, Las Vegas Nevada

• The Stardust Hotel, Las Vegas Nevada

• Intentional Demolition is also used as a weapon

• Oklahoma City, OK 1995

• Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building destroyed by Terrorists

• World Trade Center, NYC

• Light Weight

Steel Trusses and Decking Supported the Floors in the World Trade Center, NYC

• Light Weight Steel Trusses and Decking Supported the Floors in the World Trade Center, NYC

• Earthquake Damage, San Francisco, CA 1906

• Earthquake Damage, San Francisco, CA 1906

• Mind the Gap

• San Francisco, CA Earthquake 1906. Piles of Bricks are from Cornice Collapse

• Earthquake Damage, San Francisco, CA





Documents

BCT 100 Overview of the Construction Industry. Structural Failure (continued) Strength of Materials Failure Engineering / Design Error Poor Construction