Unlike the Twin Towers, WTC 7 was not directly hit by an airplane, yet it collapsed completely, making it the first known instance of a tall building brought down primarily by uncontrolled fires. This article aims to explore the structural causes behind the collapse of WTC 7 from an engineering perspective.
The vapor cloud found an ignition source - most likely a running vehicle or a spark from a nearby contractor's trailer - and ignited. The resulting explosion was equivalent to approximately 1,000 to 2,000 kilograms of TNT, and it was felt up to five miles away.
The Aggie Bonfire was more than a mere bonfire; it was a towering structure of log stacks reaching nearly sixty feet high, an emblem of Aggie spirit and camaraderie. The collapse, which occurred during construction, was a shocking tragedy that deeply affected the University and the broader community.
The Denver International Airport (DIA) is renowned for its iconic tent-like structure, but it is also infamous in engineering and project management circles for its ambitious yet flawed automated baggage-handling system. This system, which was intended to revolutionize the airport industry, instead became a case study in the pitfalls of over-ambitious engineering and poor project management.
On the morning of June 28th, 1973, the small town of Westwego, Louisiana was rocked by a massive explosion that left 36 people dead and over 70 injured. The cause of this tragedy was a grain-dust explosion at the Continental Grain Company facility, which was one of the largest grain elevators in the country at the time.
The Tropicana Casino Resort was one of Atlantic City’s premier gambling destinations, drawing thousands of visitors each year. As part of a major renovation effort, the Tropicana embarked on an ambitious construction project to build a nine-story parking garage. The project began in 2002 and was expected to take approximately 14 months to complete.
The Silver Bridge’s origin traces back to the early 1900s to Charles Holzer, a doctor who grew tired of the time it took to reach patients on the other side of the river. Some died awaiting his arrival. Holzer eventually organized community groups to plan a bridge. Those groups eventually merged into the West Virginia Ohio River Bridge Company, with Holzer at the helm.
A PEPCON employee was on the loading dock on May 4, 1988 when a thick cloud began moving through the facility. There were no flames in sight, but a sudden explosion rocked the plant. Then, a second explosion sent a shock wave across the terrain and Boulder Highway was reduced to a war zone. There was glass everywhere. Very few people got out.
April 23, 2022 marked the 35th anniversary of the collapse of L’Ambiance Plaza in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Situated at the corner of Washington Avenue in the business district, the site was intended to be the future home of a $17.5 million complex.
The Florida International University (FIU)-Sweetwater University City pedestrian bridge was planned to connect the FIU campus to student housing neighborhoods in Sweetwater. It was intended to improve pedestrian safety, as the crosswalks at this wide, busy intersection had been a safety hazard.
