The cause of this collapse was a fundamental design error known in engineering terms as: “Structural Instability of the Euler Buckling or P-Delta Effect.”
In lay terms:
The eccentricity of the load causes an increase in the bending stresses,
which causes more eccentricity of the load,
which causes more bending stresses, and so on,
until the structure collapses.
The Inquiry Commission described this mechanism clearly as progressive collapse through weakening of the structure, but failed to identify it as the overwhelming cause.
Instead, the Commission clouded the issue with a number of items that were inconsequential: cold weather (4.1C is NOT cold), under-reinforcing (the sudden collapse with a “bang” contradicts that theory) and weakened concrete (the concrete was over-stressed, not weak or weakened).
Dr. Michael Hogan, P. Eng.
Hogan & Greenfield
Toronto, Canada.
There is a pattern of incompetence in the design of major public structures.
The Inquiry into the collapse of de Gaulle Airport says the structure was too weak to sustain itself and progressively collapsed.
We had a similar problem here in Canada when the roof of the Olympic Stadium in Montreal was not able to support itself.
We all pay insurance and we all pay for and use public buildings.
Is it too much to expect them to be able to stand up under their own weight?
When Architects stop playing God I will no longer have an axe to grind.
Too many times, the Structural Engineer (i.e. me) has been told by the Architect – “Make it work or I will find another Engineer”. Architect’s audacity compromises the safety of structures and there seems to be no check on them.
In the case of de Gaulle Airport Collapse, M. Andreu is BOTH the Architect and Engineer of record.
I think Dr Doug Shamonon comments against Dr Michael Hogan are unfair and for the record I agree with Dr Hogan’s theory and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find the collapse was caused by ASR. Please see the forum at Insurance Journal for further details.
Dr Hogan is justifeid in stating other similar projects should be looked into and I understand the Chinese Authorities have already done so. It should be SOP to check out similar projects in situations like the terminal 2e collapse.
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Someone should check the other buildings this designer has “created” – before the next insurance claim.
The first one to look at is the new Opera House in Beijing.
Dr. Michael Hogan, P. Eng.
hogangrn@passport.ca
The cause of this collapse was a fundamental design error known in engineering terms as: “Structural Instability of the Euler Buckling or P-Delta Effect.”
In lay terms:
The eccentricity of the load causes an increase in the bending stresses,
which causes more eccentricity of the load,
which causes more bending stresses, and so on,
until the structure collapses.
The Inquiry Commission described this mechanism clearly as progressive collapse through weakening of the structure, but failed to identify it as the overwhelming cause.
Instead, the Commission clouded the issue with a number of items that were inconsequential: cold weather (4.1C is NOT cold), under-reinforcing (the sudden collapse with a “bang” contradicts that theory) and weakened concrete (the concrete was over-stressed, not weak or weakened).
Dr. Michael Hogan, P. Eng.
Hogan & Greenfield
Toronto, Canada.
It is clear that you just have a personal axe to grind, this is unprofessional on your part.
I do have an axe to grind Dr. Shamanon.
There is a pattern of incompetence in the design of major public structures.
The Inquiry into the collapse of de Gaulle Airport says the structure was too weak to sustain itself and progressively collapsed.
We had a similar problem here in Canada when the roof of the Olympic Stadium in Montreal was not able to support itself.
We all pay insurance and we all pay for and use public buildings.
Is it too much to expect them to be able to stand up under their own weight?
When Architects stop playing God I will no longer have an axe to grind.
Too many times, the Structural Engineer (i.e. me) has been told by the Architect – “Make it work or I will find another Engineer”. Architect’s audacity compromises the safety of structures and there seems to be no check on them.
In the case of de Gaulle Airport Collapse, M. Andreu is BOTH the Architect and Engineer of record.
Dr. Michael Hogan, P. Eng.
email: hogangrn@passport.ca
I think Dr Doug Shamonon comments against Dr Michael Hogan are unfair and for the record I agree with Dr Hogan’s theory and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find the collapse was caused by ASR. Please see the forum at Insurance Journal for further details.
Dr Hogan is justifeid in stating other similar projects should be looked into and I understand the Chinese Authorities have already done so. It should be SOP to check out similar projects in situations like the terminal 2e collapse.