Comments on L'Ambiance Plaza Lifting Collar/Shearheads
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 6, Issue 2
Abstract
The writer is engaged by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to study the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) report on the L'Ambiance Plaza Building collapse and develop supplemental information for its use in legal proceedings. The study includes a review of the design of the lifting collar/shearhead assemblages. The paper is a summary of that review and the, writer's interpretation of subsequent evidence. Copies of design calculations and contract drawings are studied. In the paper, the absence of consideration of the effect of the lifting conditions on stresses in the arm channels in these calculations is noted. Questionable design details for welds connecting lifting angles to arm channels and header bars to header channels are also noted. The faulty condition of some of these welds as shown by lifting collar sectioning is illustrated. Evidence presented after the negotiated settlement of November 1988 reinforces the writer's finding that any of these deficiencies, and particularly the combination of unwise welds poorly executed, could have resulted in the initiation of the collapse. Recommendations for further investigation of these deficiencies are presented.
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References
1.
Culver, C. G., Scribner, C. F., Marshall, R. D., Yokel, F. Y., Gross, J. L., Yancey, C. W., and Hendrickson, E. M. (1987). “Investigation of L'Ambiance Plaza building collapse in Bridgeport, Connecticut.” NBSIR 87‐3640, National Bureau of Standards, (Now Nat. Inst. of Standards and Tech.), Washington, D.C.
2.
Cuoco, D. A., Peraza, D. B., and Scarangello, T. Z. (1992). Investigation of L'Ambiance Plaza building collapse, Bridgeport, Connecticut, Thornton‐Tomasetti, Engrs., New York, N.Y.
3.
Heger, F. J. (1991). “Public‐safety issues in collapse of L'Ambiance Plaza,” J. of Perf of Const. Fac, 5(2), ASCE, New York, N.Y.
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5.
Manual of steel construction, load and resistance factor design. (1986). American Inst. of Steel Constr., Chicago, Ill., 5–192.
6.
Scribner, C. F., and Culver, C. G. (1988). “Investigation of the collapse of the L'Ambiance Plaza.” J. Perf. Constr. Fac., ASCE, 2(2), 58–79.
7.
“Structural load test type SI shearhead, prepared for Texstar Construction Corporation.” (1987). Engineering Report 94018, Southwestern Laboratories Inc., Dallas, Tex.
8.
Texstar Construction Corp. telephone conversation (1987) between Mr. Risilo and Mr. Shepard, April 30, 1987 transcript.
9.
“Visual inspection of weld samples cut from shearheads at W.T.T.I., Allentown, Pa, on 6/2/88, visually inspected on 6/6/88 and 6/10/88.” (1988) Report 1 FP, N. S. Moreton Co., Elizabeth, N.J.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 6 • Issue 2 • May 1992
Pages: 78 - 95
Copyright
Copyright © 1992 ASCE.
History
Published online: May 1, 1992
Published in print: May 1992
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