The TED Talk from which the quote above came from is something that every Engineer should really take a close look at. It will hopefully kick-start some reflective thoughts on whether we have what it takes to assume the mantle of technical and social responsibility that we shoulder. Or at the very least, as Dr Brian Goldman suggests, force us to talk about it - get it out there. Discuss it.
For this post I have been Google and Wiki-researching a number of pertinent structural failures from our past. This post is not intended to cover every major disaster, nor every recent engineering screw-up. What I have done is look at them for you, and highlighted some interesting ones, based upon a few different key factors;
- Size and magnitude of destruction.
- Who's fault was it?
- The fall out. What happened as a result?
- Can we learn anything from this.
I don't mean to scare you [OK I do], but as it happens there is a mind boggling wealth of subject matter to choose from should you decide to look into historical structural failures. Many lives lost.
I intend to stretch a few posts out over the next week, and deal with 15 such disasters.
So let's get this morbid show on the road. In no particular order of importance or significance - here are the Structural Engineering failures which would have, undoubtedly rocked many peoples worlds, in a very sad way.
The Hyatt Regency Hotel Walkway Collapse, Kansas City, USA [1981]
#Killed [injured] - 114 [216]
Structural Engineers - Jack D. Gillum & Associates
Contractors - Haven Steel
This disaster easily makes it way into my blog post, because this costly failure was considered to have been caused by a lack of communication between the Structural Engineers - Jack D. Gillum & Associates, and the specialist steelwork subcontractors - Havens Steel.
This was also one of the very few structural engineering mistakes which was case studied during my Civil Engineering degree course at Nottingham Trent University.
My thoughts on this disaster are that this quite possibly is one of the worst possible modern failures of a Structural Engineer to carry out their duties.
The engineers involved were convicted of criminal negligence and also had their license to practice engineering removed.
As a direct result of this tragedy, $140million dollars was award to the victims and their families. Also, and most importantly, the now retired owner of JD Gillum's, Jack Gillum, has been involved in the occasional speaking engagement for engineering conferences - sharing his experiences and those of his company. In the hope that a disaster like this will never be repeated again. [please check the wiki-link for full information].
The Dee Bridge Disaster, Chester, England [1847]
#Killed [injured] - 5 [9]
Structural Engineer - Robert Stephenson
Material - Cast Iron Girders
The cause for the disaster was eventually explained by the Railway Inspectorate to be a design error. Specifically, by making a poor choice of materials - in this case, cast iron girders. The hugely celebrated Civil and Locomotive Engineer vehemently argued that the fault for the failure lay elsewhere, and was not caused by a fracturing of the girders due to poor ductility.
The disaster never had much of an effect on the career of Robert Stephenson as his very close friends Isambard Brunel and Joseph Locke [who were called to be expert witnesses in the trial] refused to criticise Roberts design. Afterwards, a number of similar failures occurred using cast iron girder designs.
This and other structural failures halted the design and construction of identical bridges across the globe. Steel began to replace cast iron very quickly afterwards. It was believed that the increased ductility and less likelihood for hidden internal defects made it a better material to design and build bridges with.
Versailles Wedding Hall Disaster, Talpiot, Jerusalem [2001]
#Killed [injured] - 23 [380]
Structural Engineer - Eli Ron [and 3 other Engineers]
Construction Method - Pal-Kal
At the time, until footage was rescued, it was believed due to the visible amount of devastation, that a terrorist had bombed the hall. Later it would prove to be a series of structural engineering mistakes and alterations to the building during construction and afterwards which led to the floor collapsing and claiming 23 lives.
The light weight coffered concrete floor system which had been innovated by the Structural Engineer responsible for the disaster, was believed to be the main contributor to the floor collapsing. As it happens, partitions erected directly below the floor spread the load well enough to support the loads temporarily. That was up and until the wedding hall owners decided to remove them.
When the floor began to excessively deflect [this being the sign of imminent failure], instead of consulting the Engineers, they levelled off the floor using a concrete screed. Effectively worsening the situation. Please refer to the [link] here for a more detailed report.
As a result the Engineer responsible for the system of construction [Eli Ron] was found guilty of manslaughter and the building owners also convicted of causing death by negligence.
Each of the structural failures include very different reasons for the mistakes. Some were related to a quick succession of engineering mishaps combined with construction difficulties. One in particular will register heavily with many of us - design developments due to onsite buildability issues.
My advice is as soon as you hear the words, not "do you remember..." but "can we change...", then you all should be reaching for the design file, and thinking well on what you are about to say to a screaming contractor.
Next time I will be briefly looking at The Quebec Bridge Disaster, The I-35W Mississippi River Bridge Disaster amongst others.
Until then, please don't have nightmares.
If you have spotted any engineering project which is suspiciously lack lustre or feel under pressure not to spend enough time on a project that deserves it then please follow this link to the CROSS and SCROSS structural safety website. There you will find advice on how to report your findings.
Engine[er]
I intend to stretch a few posts out over the next week, and deal with 15 such disasters.
So let's get this morbid show on the road. In no particular order of importance or significance - here are the Structural Engineering failures which would have, undoubtedly rocked many peoples worlds, in a very sad way.
The Hyatt Regency Hotel Walkway Collapse, Kansas City, USA [1981]
#Killed [injured] - 114 [216]
Structural Engineers - Jack D. Gillum & Associates
Contractors - Haven Steel
This disaster easily makes it way into my blog post, because this costly failure was considered to have been caused by a lack of communication between the Structural Engineers - Jack D. Gillum & Associates, and the specialist steelwork subcontractors - Havens Steel.
This was also one of the very few structural engineering mistakes which was case studied during my Civil Engineering degree course at Nottingham Trent University.
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Photo sourced from
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The engineers involved were convicted of criminal negligence and also had their license to practice engineering removed.
As a direct result of this tragedy, $140million dollars was award to the victims and their families. Also, and most importantly, the now retired owner of JD Gillum's, Jack Gillum, has been involved in the occasional speaking engagement for engineering conferences - sharing his experiences and those of his company. In the hope that a disaster like this will never be repeated again. [please check the wiki-link for full information].
The Dee Bridge Disaster, Chester, England [1847]
#Killed [injured] - 5 [9]
Structural Engineer - Robert Stephenson
Material - Cast Iron Girders
The cause for the disaster was eventually explained by the Railway Inspectorate to be a design error. Specifically, by making a poor choice of materials - in this case, cast iron girders. The hugely celebrated Civil and Locomotive Engineer vehemently argued that the fault for the failure lay elsewhere, and was not caused by a fracturing of the girders due to poor ductility.
This and other structural failures halted the design and construction of identical bridges across the globe. Steel began to replace cast iron very quickly afterwards. It was believed that the increased ductility and less likelihood for hidden internal defects made it a better material to design and build bridges with.
Versailles Wedding Hall Disaster, Talpiot, Jerusalem [2001]
#Killed [injured] - 23 [380]
Structural Engineer - Eli Ron [and 3 other Engineers]
Construction Method - Pal-Kal
At the time, until footage was rescued, it was believed due to the visible amount of devastation, that a terrorist had bombed the hall. Later it would prove to be a series of structural engineering mistakes and alterations to the building during construction and afterwards which led to the floor collapsing and claiming 23 lives.
The light weight coffered concrete floor system which had been innovated by the Structural Engineer responsible for the disaster, was believed to be the main contributor to the floor collapsing. As it happens, partitions erected directly below the floor spread the load well enough to support the loads temporarily. That was up and until the wedding hall owners decided to remove them.
When the floor began to excessively deflect [this being the sign of imminent failure], instead of consulting the Engineers, they levelled off the floor using a concrete screed. Effectively worsening the situation. Please refer to the [link] here for a more detailed report.
As a result the Engineer responsible for the system of construction [Eli Ron] was found guilty of manslaughter and the building owners also convicted of causing death by negligence.
Each of the structural failures include very different reasons for the mistakes. Some were related to a quick succession of engineering mishaps combined with construction difficulties. One in particular will register heavily with many of us - design developments due to onsite buildability issues.
My advice is as soon as you hear the words, not "do you remember..." but "can we change...", then you all should be reaching for the design file, and thinking well on what you are about to say to a screaming contractor.Next time I will be briefly looking at The Quebec Bridge Disaster, The I-35W Mississippi River Bridge Disaster amongst others.
Until then, please don't have nightmares.
If you have spotted any engineering project which is suspiciously lack lustre or feel under pressure not to spend enough time on a project that deserves it then please follow this link to the CROSS and SCROSS structural safety website. There you will find advice on how to report your findings.
Engine[er]
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