engineering disasters

ENGINEERING DISASTERS

Group 4David SmulskiBrad WardKevin LangDan Phillips

ST. FRANCIS DAM FAILURE

ST. FRANCIS DAM FAILURE

Concrete gravity arch dam near Los Angeles, CA

Failed on March 12, 1928 Resulted in the death of more than 450

people Cause: It was built on a fault line in a

weak geological area unable to support the dam

BIG DIG CEILING COLLAPSE

BIG DIG CEILING COLLAPSE

July 10, 2006 A concrete ceiling panel weighing 3

tons fell in the Fort Point Channel Tunnel in Boston

The panel fell on a car, killing the passenger and injuring the driver

Cause: The bolts used were too short and the epoxy used was not up to standards

I-35 BRIDGE COLLAPSE

I-35 BRIDGE COLLAPSE

Minneapolis, Minnesota over the Mississippi River

Collapsed on August 1, 2007 during the evening rush hour

Resulted in the death of 13 people and injured 145

Cause: Undersized gusset plates and increased deadweight due to construction error

NEW ORLEANS LEVEE FAILURES

NEW ORLEANS LEVEE FAILURES

August 29, 2005 after Hurricane Katrina 28 failures reported in the first 24

hours and over 50 in the following days 85% of New Orleans was flooded Cause: Overtopping of levees,

undermining of flood wall foundations, and soil giving way.

CHARLES DE GAULLE ROOF COLLAPSE

CHARLES DE GAULLE ROOF COLLAPSE May 23, 2004 at Charles De Gaulle

Airport in Paris, France A portion of Terminal 2E’s ceiling

collapsed Resulted in the death of 4 people Cause: The concrete vaulted ceilings

were pierced by metallic pillars and the design had little margin for error to reduce costs

TROPICANA PARKING GARAGE COLLAPSE

TROPICANA PARKING GARAGE COLLAPSE October 30, 2003 at the Tropicana

Casino in Atlantic City 4 construction workers were killed and

21 others were injured Cause: The concrete floors were not

allowed to cure properly before temporary supports were removed and additional floors built

TACOMA NARROWS BRIDGE COLLAPSE

TACOMA NARROWS BRIDGE COLLAPSE November 7, 1940 in Washington State Cause: Aeroelastic flutter caused by 42

mph winds. The wind matched the resonance frequency of the bridge causing the main span to collapse.

BIG BLUE CRANE COLLAPSE

BIG BLUE CRANE COLLAPSE

July 14, 1999 Occurred during the construction of

Miller Park in Milwaukee 3 people were killed as a result One of the most serious heavylift crane

accidents Cause: The effect of side winds was not

calculated for the 450 ton load

SUNSHINE SKYWAY BRIDGE DISASTER

SUNSHINE SKYWAY BRIDGE DISASTER May 9, 1980 The southbound span of the original

bridge was destroyed Resulted in the death of 35 people Cause: The freighter MV Summit

Venture collided with a support column sending 1200 feet of bridge into Tampa Bay

SEONGSU BRIDGE COLLAPSE

SEONGSU BRIDGE COLLAPSE

October 21, 1994 32 people died and 17 injured A concrete slab fell from the bridge

when the suspension structure failed Cause: Improper welding of the steel

trusses of the suspension structure beneath the roadway