Lessons Learned: The Collapse of World Trade Center Building 7 (WTC)

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.

2024-08-22T12:19:48-04:00December 21st, 2023|Friday Famous Failures|7 Comments

Lessons Learned: The 1999 Aggie Bonfire Collapse

On November 18, 1999, the traditional Aggie Bonfire, an iconic annual event at Texas A&M University, suffered a devastating structural failure that led to the death of twelve people, while injuring twenty-seven. 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.

2023-10-23T12:12:27-04:00October 26th, 2023|Friday Famous Failures|4 Comments

Lessons Learned: The Denver International Airport Automated Baggage-Handling System

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.

2023-09-28T09:50:47-04:00September 28th, 2023|Friday Famous Failures|6 Comments

Westwego Grain Elevator Explosion

The Westwego explosion was one of the deadliest grain-dust explosions in history, and it had a profound impact on the industry and the community. In the aftermath of the disaster, investigators worked tirelessly to determine the cause of the explosion and to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

2023-09-29T11:16:23-04:00August 24th, 2023|Friday Famous Failures|3 Comments
Terms of Use: By using our website, you consent to our Terms of Use and use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Accept