Investigation into collapse of Investigation into collapse of Terminal 2E concourse continuesTerminal 2E concourse continues

Presented By:Presented By:

Yossra Ali Mohamed AliYossra Ali Mohamed Ali

By:Peter Reina By:Peter Reina

Web Address:Web Address:

http://archrecord.construction.com/features/digital/http://archrecord.construction.com/features/digital/

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Date: July - 2004 Date: July - 2004

Fatal Collapse On May 23, 2004Fatal Collapse On May 23, 2004

The four deaths caused by the sudden The four deaths caused by the sudden collapse OF A :collapse OF A :

Terminal’s 10-million-a-year passenger capacity.

$900 million cost

concourse building at Roissy Charles de Gaulle International Airport, just north of Paris

Less than a year after it opened to trafficLess than a year after it opened to trafficFatal CollapseHAS ACCQURED

• Terminal 2E is the most recent addition to the airport’s second Aérogare, which has opened in stages since 1981. Covering nearly 50 acres east of the original complex

•Understanding the design:Though there was little warning of the structural failure, the timing of its occurrence

• Victims of the accident were located in an “isthmus” zone of the building, which connects the concourse with the main arrivals and departures area. The collapsed section abutted the isthmus, which was largely undamaged

• Structurally, the concourse is essentially a long, elevated platform covered by a vaulted concrete roof. The vault bulges to create a space of about 100 feet at its widest, and curves back in by several feet at floor level. Numerous punched windows within the structure provide natural lighting, and more light enters through glazed gaps between the 10 continuous concrete tubes that form it.

AdP had problems with the concourse’s supporting columns during construction.

Photography: Courtesy Eiffel/Laubeuf

At the isthmus building, several alternate side panels of the vault were opened up to create three passenger entrances.

At those locations, the remaining intermediate vault sections were designed to be connected to each other via the crown in order to bridge the structural gaps formed by the openings .

• ConceptuallyConceptually

the design of Terminal 2E “couldn’t get much simpler,” says the design of Terminal 2E “couldn’t get much simpler,” says the U.K. structural engineer, who requested to remain the U.K. structural engineer, who requested to remain anonymous. He further adds that, spanning about 100 feet, the anonymous. He further adds that, spanning about 100 feet, the structure cannot be seen as a particularly challenging or risky structure cannot be seen as a particularly challenging or risky design.design.

AdP undertook all the outline design and also managed AdP undertook all the outline design and also managed construction of Terminal 2E, mobilizing some 150 architects construction of Terminal 2E, mobilizing some 150 architects and engineers from within its ranks. However, the builder of the and engineers from within its ranks. However, the builder of the vault is reported to have denied responsibility for detail design vault is reported to have denied responsibility for detail design work, which would have been normal practice in France.work, which would have been normal practice in France.

• Construction problems?

1. During construction, contractor GTM Construction of Paris precast each vault section in three pieces near the airport site, recalls Didier Primault, a senior engineer with the parent company Vinci Group.

2. The pieces, forming both the sides and the crown of each section, were then brought to the site, where, using large cranes, GTM installed the three sections on temporary internal props.

3. Workers then “stitched” the sections together with cast-in-place-concrete and steel reinforcing bars to form a continuous enclosure. Substructures of the concourse building were constructed by a different firm, Hervé of Paris.

4- AdP recorded problems with the construction of the columns supporting the vaults.

As a result, each of them was reinforced externally by applying a layer of fiber-reinforced concrete.

5- While AdP declines to discuss details while the investigation continues

6- a close observer of the project recalls a work stoppage for several months during the concourse’s construction. “They had some serious cracks in the columns,” says the engineer, who worked on a nearby building.

7- Additionally, vault deflections “were bigger than expected,” he adds. “They (AdP) recalculated completely the full structure.”

Since retiring from AdP last year, Andreu has run a small Since retiring from AdP last year, Andreu has run a small practice near Montsouris Park in southern Paris. practice near Montsouris Park in southern Paris. However, he continues to collaborate with AdP on However, he continues to collaborate with AdP on various projects.various projects.

Among his most recent innovations was the proposal to Among his most recent innovations was the proposal to use titanium for the long-span main girders of a new use titanium for the long-span main girders of a new terminal for the airport at Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab terminal for the airport at Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, his design for a new national Emirates. Meanwhile, his design for a new national theater are taking shape in Beijing, and his Oriental Art theater are taking shape in Beijing, and his Oriental Art

Centre in Shanghai is also well advanced.Centre in Shanghai is also well advanced.

A BOUT THE ARCHITECT ( ANDREU) HAS COME OVER WHAT HAPPENED & COMPLITED HIS LIFE , INNOVATIONS