FAILURE OF ENGINEERING STRUCTURES

Underestimating Loads
Sometimes, designers may underestimate the load that would be imposed upon their structure
when the structure is in operation. A good example is the unipole structure that collapsed as
described earlier. The unipole structure could only withstand wind pressures of not exceeding
q = 0.613 x 19.22 = 226N/m2 but in the area where the collapse of the unipole occurred, wind
pressures of as high as q = 0.613 x 35.52 = 773N/m2 have been recorded. Various structural
elements are likely to be overstressed when designers underestimate the load that would be
imposed on their designed structure. Consequently, their structure is susceptible to collapse.

Connections
Surprisingly, research has shown that 30% of structural failures are caused by defective
detailed design of the joints between structural members (Seward, 1998, p.232). In short,
failure of connections can lead to a change in the structural system, and in turn, have adverse
domino effects.

Inconsistent Design, Detailing And Construction

A structural engineer deals with numbers in his structural design, which may be Greek to a
layman, a draughtsperson or even the contractor. In order to communicate his design to the
contractor, structural drawings are produced. At times, the structural engineer may not be the
one producing the structural drawings but his draughtsperson would be the one drafting it.
Somehow or rather, miscommunication may occur and designs do not tally with the drawings.
There may be times when young engineers may draft the drawings but drafted them
incorrectly. It is quite common to note that engineers analyse a reinforced concrete structure
as a pin-joint or simply supported but in his or her detail, a fixed support is being provided. The
consequence of proceeding with construction would be similar as that of the hoarding where a
change of structural system may occur.

Not Considering Elements In Contact With Structure

When columns are supported by relatively small footings and the soil surrounding the footings
is of compressible

soil, a structural engineer should analyse the columns as pin-jointed

(Winter & Nilson, 1979, p.392). Similarly, if the soil surrounding the footings is stiff and
incompressible, then the structural engineer should analyse the columns as fixed.

Providing Undersized Members

Though it seldom happens, there are times when undersized members are used. These
undersized members would most definitely experience excessive stress. When certain
structural members cannot withstand the forces that are imposed upon them, the structure
would be imminent of collapse.

Lack Of Maintenance
Many people have the misconception that structures do not need any maintenance. This is
totally incorrect. Whatever the structures are made of, whether steel, timber or reinforced
concrete, they need constant maintenance. Steel structures, for instance, are susceptible to
corrosion while timber structures can be destroyed by a colony of termites. Without maintaining
a structure, slowly but surely, defects would occur. If these defects are left unattended, it would
lead to further serious defects and in the end, a structural collapse may be possible due to the
weakening of the structural members.

Overlooking The Third Dimension

Every single object, be it a ball, a car or a structure, can move in three different directions,
namely left to right, up to down and backward to forward. All structures, except for space
frames, can be analysed and designed by simplifying them into two-dimensional structures.
There may be the possibility that engineers can overlook one of the three dimensions. When
this occurs, the structure is only structurally sound in two dimensions but can fail in the third
dimension.

Constructing An Unstable (Mechanism) Structure

There are times when a structure is erected but is unstable. This is especially frequent in roof
trusses. Many a time, the centre line of the structural members do not meet and thus, forming
a structural system which is not a truss.

Not Consulting An Engineer

Obviously, this point needs no explanation whatsoever. There are times when constructors
would defy the instructions of engineers and proceed with construction, without realising that
they could be constructing a collapse-prone structure. Worst of all, there are owners who never
even engage a structural engineer but copy the sizes of a structure from another construction
site to erect their own. This can be very dangerous as the site conditions vary.

REFERENCE:
Harry, H. West, 1993, Fundamentals of Structural Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey.
Seward, D., 1998, Understanding Structures Analysis, Materials, Design, Second Edition,
MacMillian, Hampshire.