Forensic Engineering - Informing the Future with Lessons from the Past - Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Forensic Engineering organised by the Institution of Civil Engineers and held in London, UK, 16–17 April 2013

478 Pages·2013·25.5 MB·English

by  Carpenter

Forensic Engineering:
Informing the Future
with Lessons from
the Past
Proceedings of the Fifth International
Conference on Forensic Engineering
organised by the Institution of Civil
Engineers and held in London, UK,
16–17 April 2013
Edited by John Carpenter CEng, FICE, CFIOSH
Organising Committee Chairman
Published by ICE Publishing, One Great George Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3AA.
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ISBN 978-0-7277-5822-4
# The authors 2013
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Preface
In April 2013 I was able to welcome some 150 delegates to the 5th International
gathering of those with an interest in forensic engineering. That this was the fifth
ICE conference is testament to the world-wide interest and recognition of this
important subject area.
The last conference was held in 2008. Much has occurred since that time, but in the
main the events of the period have reinforced the basic tenets of forensic engineer-
ing; the need to:
• Learn from the past
• Facilitate and exchange knowledge
• Input into codes and guidance such that they reflect contemporary knowledge and
understanding
• Encourage education and career learning in this field
• Improve investigative and monitoring techniques
• Support the work of expert witnesses
for all aspects of the built environment.
Sincere thanks are due to the conference sponsors Ramboll, Thornton Thomasetti,
Sandberg, RSK and Fugro which provided valuable support.
The plenary presentations prefixed each of the two days with wide-ranging and
thought provoking examples of forensic engineering: Rob Ratay led off as the key
note speaker with an overview (Rewards of failure – changes in codes, standards
and practices resulting from failures), followed by How failures initiate progress
in engineering design and construction practicegiven by Jonathan Wood, and
finally, on the first day, Learning from failure – the challenges and opportunities
by Sean Brady. This was a broad spectrum from an international perspective.
On the second day we commenced with the key note address by Wei Lee on
Forensic investigation and performance analysis for bridges under extreme
natural hazards. This was followed by Investigation into highway bridge damage
and failures during the November 2009 Cumbria flood event, by John Collins and
finally New York City 51st Street Tower Crane Collapse Investigationby James
Cohen. Another truly international perspective.
These papers indicated the importance of forensic work and also the common lessons
that apply, regardless of the detailed circumstances. This conference was the first I
believe to include a ‘temporary structure’ example in its opening session. These are
perhaps a neglected grouping given their importance and safety-critical nature and
we devoted a session to them in the conference.
v
Critical and contemporary aspects to forensic engineering were reflected in the topics
chosen for the conference sessions themselves, viz:
• Education and continuing professional development in Forensic Engineering
• Legal, contract and learning
These represent the foundations of any discipline; without the underpinning know-
ledge, enhanced by an understanding of contemporary practice, and without an
understanding of the operational framework within which we have to operate (and
which is often a causal factor in failures), the industry will not improve and our
infrastructure will suffer.
• Case Studies - Bridges
• Case Studies - Ground and below Ground Works
• Building Failures and Investigation
The detailed examination and analysis of past failures is essential to progression.
Hence it was no surprise to see an emphasis on this topic in the conference.
However, it is from these examples, and others, that we often see the recurrence of
known basic shortcomings and are able to develop new research, guidelines and
codes of practice
• Materials Failures and Investigation
Past experience tells us that we need to be cautious about the potential for material
failure e.g. concrete (AAR), steel (LMAC),
• Temporary Structures
As mentioned, for the first time we had a session on temporary structures, including
one which although classified as ‘art work’ was in fact a very specialised lightweight
structure, and another which is a tower crane.Temporary structures often have
characteristics which differentiate them from permanent structures, however they
demand as much attention and care as their permanent counterparts.
You will find this publication a useful reference source for both research and
contemporary design. We forget the lessons of the past at our peril.
John Carpenter CEng, FICE, CFIOSH
Organising Committee Chairman
vi
Contents
Sponsors iii
Preface v
Opening Plenary Papers
Rewardsoffailure – Changesincodes,standardsandpractices resultingfromstructural
failures 3
R.T.Ratay
Evolutionofdesignandconstruction, guidedbyfailures 9
J.G.M.Wood
LearningfromStructural Failure:TheChallengesandOpportunities 21
S.P.Brady
Forensicinvestigationandperformance analysisforbridgesunderextremenatural
hazards 29
W.Lee,M.Abe,M.Cubrinovski,C.I. Yen,M.-F.WuandC.-F.Chen
Investigationinto highwaybridgedamageandfailuresduring theNovember2009
Cumbriafloodevent 49
J.Collins,M.Steele,D.Wilkes,D.AshurstandB.Harvey
NewYorkCity51st Streettowercranecollapse investigation 61
J.S.Cohen
Forensic Investigation Case Studies - Bridges
RailwaybridgefailureduringfloodintheUK &Ireland:Learningfromthepast 75
J.Benn
TamarBridge-Investigationofsurfacing defects,designandspecification 85
I.WidyatmokoandR.Elliott
Assessingtherisktorailwaystructuresfromtrainimpact 95
J.Lane andK.Thompson
Calculatingcollapse:Analyticalapproaches forinvestigatingthecauseoftheI-35
WestBridgefailure 105
L.Cao,E.A.Malsch,F.Brando,G.F.Panariello andJ.Abruzzo
Assessmentandrepairofafire-damagedpre-stressed concretebridge 115
R.Wheatley,N.Gibbin,M.deMelo,M.Gonza´lez-Quesada andK.Harwood
Theroleofmonitoring indiagnosisofbridgefaults 125
B.HarveyandH.Harvey
Building Failures and Investigation
Tsunamicasualtymitigationthroughvertical evacuationbuildings:acase studyfromthe
March11th2011Tohoku earthquake 137
K.Goda,I.Dasiewicz,S.Li,M.QuinnandJ.Zhang
BondStreetstationupgrade: Thereplacement ofescalator 1and2 148
P.Perry
vii
Latentbuildingfacadefailures 165
K.J.Beasley
Remoteinvestigationofblasteffects onbuildings 175
S.Hudson
Foodmarket northernfromMontreal-Investigationafterafailureoftheroofunder
thesnowload 195
S.Zmigrodzki
Case Studies - Ground and below Ground Works
Investigationofcollapse ofslurrytrenchinunderground metroconstruction 207
M.G.KhareandM.Ramanathan
Failurecostanalysisof50deepexcavationsinThe Netherlands 215
M.KorffandA.F.vanTol
Impactofadjacentconstruction onexistingpilefoundations 225
H.YangandS-K.Ho
Temporary Structures
Braggrevisited:KeepingUK’stemporary workssafeinthedawningEurocodeera 237
B.Hewlett,A.Jones,S.MarchandandB.Bell
Partialcollapse ofbridgefalseworkandsalvage technique 251
J.Hołowaty
Dreamspace: dreamsturned intonightmares,acase study 259
R.K.Lavingia,J.McCulloughandI.Hall
Education and Continuing Professional Development in Forensic Engineering
Forensicengineeringeducationworkshops:U.S.andinternationalexperiences 271
K.L.Carper,P.A.BoselaandN.J.Delatte
Implementationandassessment offailurecase studiesintheengineering curriculum 278
N.J.Delatte,P.A.BoselaandJ.Bagaka’s
Failurecasedatabasesforteachingrisk incivilengineering 286
D.Breysse
StructuralincidentsinTheNetherlands:Acomparisonofthreedatabases 297
K.Terwel,W.BootandM.Nelisse
Legal, Contract and Learning
Systemicanalysisofrisksinprojectmanagementandsafetyissues 309
D.Breysse,R.Mehdizadeh, F.TaillandierandE.Tepeli
Alltheworld’sastage-Reflections onaforensic engineeringmootcourtexperience 320
D.T.Phillips
Theroleofengineers indisputeresolutionandlitigation 330
A.Morgan
viii
The‘‘StandardofCare’’andnegligenceofthe forensicengineer 342
J.B.Kardon
Expertwitnesstraining -thePractitioner’sViewpoint 349
D.Wassermann
Forensicengineeringapplied tocontractmanagementinthe construction industry 356
S.Palazzo
Preventionisbetter.......howinsurerstrytoreducefailures 365
R.Radevsky
AppropriatenessofCurrent RegulatoryRequirements forEnsuring theRobustnessof
PrecastBuildingTypologies 376
G.P.Robinson,A.PalmeriandS.A.Austin
Materials Failures and Investigation
Lessonslearnedfromstructuresdamagedbydelayedettringite formationandthe French
preventionstrategy 389
B.GodartandL.Divet
ConcretePreservationPlanforReinforced ConcreteUniversityCampusBuildings 401
J.P.Broomfield
GoreyPierheadJersey,Investigationsandassessment ofcurrentstructural integrity 414
S.Hold,R.Hine andA.Ulanovsky
Investigationofthe ElectrostaticPrecipitator HoppersDetachmentIncidentatacoal
firedpowerstationinHongKong 426
L.Tang
Closing Plenary Papers
Post-TensionedStructures – ImprovedStandardsBased OnLessons Learnt 447
G.M.Clark
Learningfromconfidentialreporting 457
A.Soane
RebuildingWoolwich ArsenalClockTower 468
J.Foster
AuthorIndex 478
ix
SECTION 1:
OPENING PLENARY PAPERS
ForensicEngineering:InformingtheFuturewithLessonsfromthePast
ISBN978-0-7277-5822-4
ICEPublishing:Allrightsreserved
doi:10.1680/feng.58224.003
Rewards of Failure – Changes in codes, standardsand
practices resulting from structural failures
Robert T. Ratay, PhD, PE,Consulting Structural Engineer and Visiting Professor,
Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Synopsis of the keynote presentation delivered at the
ICE 5thInternational Conference on Forensic Engineering,London, April 15-17, 2013.
Following the spectacular twisting, squeaking and collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in
1940, the Governor of Washington State proudly declared ‘and we will rebuild the bridge
exactly as it was before’, to which the Hungarian-American scientist John von Neumann
declared ‘and it will fall down exactly as it did before’. Aside from its amusement, the story,
whether true or not, underlines the need for pragmatic changes in codes, standards and
practices after failures.
Failures are bad, often with serious and sometimes with catastrophic consequences but, if
followed up pragmatically with deliberate constructive effort,they can and often do result in
“rewards” to both the profession and society.
The presentation calls attention to one form of “rewards” that derives from structural and
construction failures: the improvementof codes, standards and practices.The presentation
is, in essence,areviewof an ongoing survey of changes in structural design and construction
codes, regulations, approval, oversight and other industry practices, resulting from
catastrophic structural and construction failuresin the US. Somerather high-profileas well as
lesser known cases of failures of bridges, buildings, temporary works, construction cranes,
liquid storage tanks, aircraft, and other structures are cited as examples to illustrate the types
of changes that have resulted from disasters.
The author’s intent is two-fold: (i) to bring awareness to the fact that welcome changes in
many areas of the design-construction industry haveand do come about withbenefitsrealized
as the result of catastrophic failures, and (ii) to urge that we,engineering professionals,press
for change when warranted, and extract all possible benefits from failures. All of this is for
the ultimate purpose of mitigating future failures!
_______________________
Structural failures are the result of human activities which – in the design-construction
industry –are prescribed in part by codes, standards, regulations and industry practices. If it is
found through the investigation of a failure that adherence to the governing documents and
practices allowed or, indeed, created the cause of the failure, then it makes “good sense” to
critically review those codes, standards, regulations and industry practices and, if warranted,
to start a process to revise them. Sometimes, but unfortunately not always,the “good sense” is
followed. In the US the effort may be initiated and carried out by city, state or federal
agenciesor by professional engineering or trade organizations,with the assistance and talents
3
ForensicEngineering:InformingtheFuturewithLessonsfromthePast
of professional societies, trade organizations, volunteers from private engineering firms,
construction companies, and academia. Sometimes, tightening of requirements start at the
urging of insurance carriers. Changes to existing, and even the creation of new, specifications
can and at time do, originate from individuals. (Leon & Rossberg 2012; Duntemann 2010).
This relative ease in the US is in contrast with the more rigid bureaucratic practices in many
other countries.
As expressedat the beginning ofthe twoconsecutivereferencesof Ratay 2010 and2011,
“To the credit of our profession, failures have been and continue to be used to improve design
and construction practices. We do not just pay up, rebuild and walk away – we delve, we
learn, and we improve.
Following a failure, engineers often carrythe forensic investigations to great details, so as to
have reasonable engineering certainty not only in the cause(s) of the failures but also in the
identification of the responsible parties – needed for the frequently inevitable dispute
resolution. A valuable peripheral benefit of the laborious search is a clearer understanding of
structural behavior and a better appreciation of pitfalls in the current practices. These can
provide information and material to affect eventual changes in design and/or construction
practices, codes, standards, oversight and regulatory procedures.
The ‘lessons learned’from failures are interesting but worthless,if not heeded and not acted
upon to prevent their re-occurrence.”
The objective of the presentation is not so much to show the audience actual failures and
specific resulting changes, as it is to make them aware of the practice and the process of
bringing about the changes.While the end results are generally the same, the process can start
with a failure (or several failures) pointing ahead to a needed change, or with an accomplished
change pointing back to a failure(or to several failures).
Actual failures and highlights of specific follow-up actions are cited in the presentation as
examples of changes in structural design codes, standards, specifications, construction safety
regulations, approval, oversight, and other industry practices, that followed (and some that
should or should not have followed)catastrophic failures.
The author has compiled cases not only from the US but from several other countries as well.
The latter are not addressed at this time; some of them will be mentioned by speakers from
other countries at this conference.
The presentation begins with Xerxes I of Persia, whose first response to the collapse of his
storm-shattered bridge at Hellensport(now known as the Dardanelles)in 480BCwasto whip
the sea 300 times and for good measure to behead the engineers. A new batch of engineers
studied the failure, changed their methodsand rebuilt the bridge in an improved configuration
–and both they and the new bridge lived happilyafter.
The list, at the time of this writing, ends with the flipping and breaking of the boom of a tower
crane 96 floors above the street during the October 30, 2012 hurricane Sandy in New York
City that together with a rash of recent crane accidents is certain to bring about tighter rules.
The examples in between include, as time allows, a number of the eventslisted below(some
of which were reported in Ratay 2010 and 2011, as well as some othersthat are almost certain
to occur in the United States between the time of this writing (December 2012) and the time
of the oral presentation (April 2013).
4