Why Structures collapse?
Structural collapses are complex events, and they are almost never caused by a single
factor.1 Instead, they are usually the result of a combination of issues that, when they
occur together, lead to a catastrophic failure. These factors can be grouped into several
key categories:
1. Design and Engineering Flaws2
This is often a root cause of a collapse, where an error is made on paper before any
physical construction begins.
Miscalculations: Engineers may miscalculate the load-bearing capacity of a
structure or the forces it needs to withstand (e.g., wind, seismic activity, snow). 3
Poor Foundation Design: The foundation may not be designed to handle the
soil conditions, leading to gradual settlement, cracking, and eventual failure.4
Material Selection: Choosing inappropriate or inferior materials that do not have
the strength or durability for the intended purpose.5
Design Changes: Changes made during the construction process that deviate
from the original, approved plans can compromise the structure's integrity.6 For
example, removing a load-bearing wall to open up a space.
2. Construction and Workmanship Errors
Even with a perfect design, a structure can fail if it's not built correctly. 7
Substandard Materials: Using low-quality concrete, steel, or other materials to
cut costs.8 This is a common issue in many collapses, particularly in developing
countries.
Poor Workmanship: Inexperienced or untrained workers may not follow proper
construction techniques, such as failing to mix concrete correctly, improperly
placing rebar, or not creating strong enough welds.9
Inadequate Supervision: A lack of proper oversight on the construction site can
allow shortcuts and errors to go unnoticed until it's too late.10
Errors During Construction: The structure is often at its most vulnerable during
the building process.11The collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel in New Orleans, for
instance, was linked to unsafe construction practices and conditions.12
3. External Forces and Natural Disasters
Structures are designed to resist certain forces, but sometimes those forces are simply
too great.13
Natural Hazards: Earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods can exert
forces far beyond a building's design capacity.14 Floods, for example, can
cause scour, where rushing water erodes the soil around a bridge's foundation,
leading to its collapse.15
Fires: High temperatures from a fire can weaken and warp steel, causing a
building to lose its structural integrity and collapse, as seen in the collapse of the
World Trade Center towers on 9/11.16
Overloading: Placing more weight on a structure than it was designed to
hold.17 This can be caused by adding unplanned floors, storing heavy equipment,
or a large crowd. The collapse of the walkway at the Hyatt Regency in Kansas
City in 1981 was a classic example of a design change leading to overloading.18
4. Deterioration and Lack of Maintenance19
A building is not a static object; it degrades over time.20
Corrosion: Steel components, especially rebar in concrete, can rust and
expand, causing the surrounding concrete to crack and weaken the
structure.21 This was a major factor in the Champlain Towers South condo
collapse in Florida.
Wear and Tear: Over decades, a structure is subject to repeated stresses from
use, weather, and other environmental factors, which can lead to fatigue and
eventual failure.22
Deferred Maintenance: Failing to perform regular inspections and necessary
repairs can allow small problems to grow into catastrophic failures.23 For
example, a cracked beam that is not repaired can eventually fail, triggering a
progressive collapse.
5. Progressive Collapse
This is a domino effect where the failure of one small structural component triggers the
failure of another, which in turn leads to the collapse of the entire structure. 24 The failure
of a single column, for example, can redistribute its load onto adjacent columns, causing
them to fail one by one until the building comes down.