Collapse of tall buildings - simple dynamic analysis

摘要

In a recent technical note, Professor Max Irvine drew our attention to the collapse of the World Trade Center Towers, and put forward a simple analysis that considered only one-dimensional (vertical) dynamics. This type of approach is well worthwhile, and can give important insight into the main aspects of the phenomenon. However, his analysis as printed was incorrect, and this technical note addresses the same problem in a similar, but more general manner, and attempts to clarify the conclusions drawn. Bazant and Verdure have analysed effectively the same problem, but with much more complexity, taking account of significant additional effects, such as the degree of compaction, the expellation of air and dust, etc.