Building Failures Case Studies In Construction And Design

This report contains 27 papers that serve as a testament to the state-of-the-art of civil engineering at the outset of the 21st century, as well as to commemorate the ASCE's Sesquicentennial. Written by the leading practitioners, educators, and researchers of civil engineering, each of these peer-reviewed papers explores a particular aspect of civil engineering knowledge and practice. Each paper explores the development of a particular civil engineering specialty, including milestones and future barriers, constraints, and opportunities. The papers celebrate the history, heritage, and accomplishments of the profession in all facets of practice, including construction facilities, special structures, engineering mechanics, surveying and mapping, irrigation and water quality, forensics, computing, materials, geotechnical engineering, hydraulic engineering, and transportation engineering. While each paper is unique, collectively they provide a snapshot of the profession while offering thoughtful predictions of likely developments in the years to come. Together the papers illuminate the mounting complexity facing civil engineering stemming from rapid growth in scientific knowledge, technological development, and human populations, especially in the last 50 years. An overarching theme is the need for systems-level approaches and consideration from undergraduate education through advanced engineering materials, processes, technologies, and design methods and tools. These papers speak to the need for civil engineers of all specialties to recognize and embrace the growing interconnectedness of the global infrastructure, economy, society, and the need to work for more sustainable, life-cycle-oriented solutions. While embracing the past and the present, the papers collected here clearly have an eye on the future needs of ASCE and the civil engineering profession.

"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"--

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.

Highlights various aspects of the analysis and design of buildings subject to impact, explosion, and fire. This reference book includes three-dimensional finite element and discrete element techniques. They are applied to buildings such as the World Trade Center Towers and the Federal Building in Oklahoma.

This unique book uses case studies and real-life experiences to present the optimum project delivery systems in terms of contractual arrangements for a variety of building projects. This is designed to allow the reader to become aware of the evolving conditions in the practice of architecture and construction. A critical hands-on guide, this book provides practical, real-world perspective using the authorÕs professional experience as designer, constructor, and owner for a variety of buildings with a total value of over $100 million and presents case studies based on the authorÕs actual experiences in those three areas. And it includes several case studies that focus on leadership capabilities and the skills necessary for success in building design and construction. It also provides references to sources needed to help solve the case studies in the book, such as other reference books, contract forms, public agencies, private practitioners, and many more. Most important, it discusses the skills needed to successfully address regulatory issues and to deal with government agencies. An essential reference for every professional who designs, builds, or owns major buildings.

Expert guidance from an engineer with 40 years' experience investigating and analyzing distressed and failed structures. Pinpointing both the causes and the consequences of errors in design, construction, and maintenance, Kaminetzky discusses numerous types of structures and construction materials, identifying the critical flaws that have led to failure time and time again. Includes detailed case histories of building failures and collapses, and abundant photographs and drawings. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR