Failures in Civil Engineering


Book Description

This convenient summary of case studies reviews the performance and failure of structural, foundation, and geoenvironmental civil engineering systems. Failures in embankments, dams, slopes, landfills, recycling facilities, bridges, and buildings are covered. For each study, an outline, a summary of the lessons learned, and a list of background references are provided. The ongoing study of the tower of Pisa, the lower San Fernando Dam, Love Canal, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, the Cypress Viaduct, the Hartford Civic Center Coliseum, and the Hyatt Regency Hotel Pedestrian Walkways are among the case studies examined.




Construction Failure


Book Description

First published in 1968, Jacob Feld's Construction Failure has longbeen considered the classic text on the subject. Retaining all ofthe key components of Feld's comprehensive exploration of the rootcauses of failure, this Second Edition addresses a multitude ofimportant industry developments to bring this landmark work up todate for a new generation of engineers, architects, andstudents. In addition to detailed coverage of current design tools,techniques, materials, and construction methods, ConstructionFailure, Second Edition features an entire chapter on theburgeoning area of construction litigation, including a thoroughexamination of alternative dispute resolution techniques. Like theoriginal, this edition discusses technical and procedural failuresof many different types of structures, but is now supplemented withnew case studies to illustrate the dynamics of failure in actiontoday. Jacob Feld knew thirty years ago that in order to learn from ourmistakes, we must first acknowledge and understand them. With thisrevised volume, Kenneth Carper has ensured that Feld'snow-posthumous message will continue to be heard for years tocome. Jacob Feld's comprehensive work on failure analysis has now beenskillfully amended to address current design and constructiontools, materials, and practices. Building on the first edition'speerless examination of the causes and lessons of failure,Construction Failure, Second Edition provides you with expandedcoverage of: * Technical, procedural, structural, and nonstructural failures * Natural hazards, earthworks, soil and foundation problems, andmore * Reinforced, precast and prestressed concrete, steel, timber,masonry, and other materials * Responsibility and litigation concerns, dispute avoidance, andalternative dispute resolution techniques * Construction safety issues * Many different types of structures, including dams andbridges Construction Failure has as much to teach us today as it did thirtyyears ago. This revised volume is an essential resource for designengineers, architects, construction managers, lawyers, and studentsin all of these fields.




Failure Case Studies in Civil Engineering


Book Description

This report provides short descriptions of 50 real-world examples of performance failures designed specifically for classroom use.




Beyond Failure


Book Description

Norbert Delatte presents the circumstances of important failures that have had far-reaching impacts on civil engineering practice, organized around topics in the engineering curriculum.




Learning from Failures


Book Description

This special issue of the highly respected Civil Engineering journal from the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers looks to study and learn from the catastrophes, collapses and failures that fascinate and horrify the civil engineering community.




Structural Failure


Book Description

Structural Failure, Edited by Tomasz Wierzbicki and Norman Jones The decline of our urban infrastructure is, perhaps more than ever, a cause of national concern. And this in-depth look describes the confluence of factors that make structural failure inevitable-as well as avoidable. The failure process is viewed as a three-tiered phenomenon: micro, or material, level failure; through-thickness failure; and global structural failure. Leading experts examine the interactive processes that underlie structural failure, covering such specifics as fracturing, fragmentation, tearing of thin metal sheets, impact loading, failure of brittle material, collapse of thin-walled structures, bending and denting failure, as well as a variety of additional loading conditions, both static and dynamic. Critical to safety-enhanced product development in mechanical design, aerospace structures, building structures, and product packaging, this important reference catalogs for design engineers the measures and means for predicting, resisting, and controlling structural failure.




Failure Case Studies


Book Description

"This book gives examples of failed civil engineering projects and the lessons learned from the failures. The case studies were gathered by ASCE's Forensic Engineering Division"--




To Forgive Design


Book Description

Argues that failures in structural engineering are not necessarily due to the physical design of the structures, but instead a misunderstanding of how cultural and socioeconomic constraints would affect the structures.




Learning from Construction Failures


Book Description

Much of the knowledge used to design, build, and operate engineered facilities and products is gained by learning from failures. As catastrophic building failures become ever more costly, this book helps readers understand key issues, from determining the causes of failure and isolating failed parts to lessening personal liability through proper contracting, planning, and management.




Failure Analysis in Engineering Applications


Book Description

Failure Analysis in Engineering Applications deals with equipment and machine design together with examples of failures and countermeasures to avoid such failures. This book analyzes failures in facilities or structures and the ways to prevent them from happening in the future. The author describes conventional terms associated with failure or states of failure including the strength of materials, as well as the procedure in failure analysis (materials used, design stress, service conditions, simulation, examination of results). The author also describes the mechanism of fatigue failure and prediction methods to estimate the remaining life of affected structures. The author cites some precautions to be followed in actual failure analysis such as detailed observation on the fracture site, removal of surface deposits (for example, rusts) without altering the fracture size or shape, The book gives examples of analysis of failure involving a crane head sheave hanger, wire rope, transmission shaft, environmental failure of fastening screws, and failures in rail joints. This book is intended for civil and industrial engineers, for technical designers or engineers involved in the maintenance of equipment, machineries, and structures.