Learning from construction failures : applied forensic engineering / edited by Peter Campbell.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Campbell, Peter, 1949-

Sabin W. Colton, Jr., Memorial Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Building failures.

Building failures--Investigation.

Forensic engineering.

Physical Description:

xii, 301 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Wiley, 2001.

Summary:

In most countries, the design and construction of all aspects of the built environment are regulated by rules and procedures which help prevent failures. When compared to the volume of construction undertaken, the number of failures of buildings and other structures is thankfully small. However, failures do occur, some making headline news, and for a variety of reasons. Information about such failures is vital to make construction -- whether it be an office block, bridge, tower or reservoir -- even safer.

This book has been written by a number of distinguished international experts, and considers numerous facets of what has become termed by many forensic engineering. It covers the spectrum of this discipline with chapters on risk assessment and management, aspects of the law and construction insurance; limiting the incidence of failures; how failures have been investigated and remedial works carried out. Numerous case studies and examples from across the world, from Pisa to the Oklahoma City bombing, cover not only modern buildings, structures and elements, but some buildings that can truly be described as historic. The spread and depth of topics covered is remarkable and illustrates the importance of this subject in modern engineering and design.

Contents:

The historical setting

1 Forensic engineering

the perspective from N.America / Kenneth L. Carper 1

2 Learning from history / Lawrance Hurst 7

3 Some lessons from the past / Poul Beckmann 18

Application of principles

4 Propping up Pisa / John Burland 32

5 Applying lessons from failures to management and design / Jonathan G.M. Wood 59

6 Learning from failures / J. C. Chapman 71

Insurance and legal perspectives

7 Risk management from the lawyer's point of view / Diana Holtham 102

8 Risk management from the lawyer's point of view

comments on US practice / Robert A. Rubin, Dana Wordes 120

9 The technical investigation of failure

a marine industry perspective / J.S. Carlton, J.R. Maguire 128

10 The role of risk assessment in failure investigations / S.B. Tietz 147

11 Failures and vulnerabilities of reservoir control structures / Jack Lewin 168

12 Diverse engineering failures / Alexander Kennaway 194

13 Reinforced aircrete slabs / Satish Desai 206

14 Lessons learned from the Oklahoma City bombing / W.Gene Corley 227

15 Failures of masts and towers / Brian W.Smith 269

16 Precast concrete cladding and structural integrity / J.N.J.A. Vambersky, R. Sagel 286.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Sabin W. Colton, Jr., Memorial Fund.

ISBN:

047039949X

OCLC:

49060859