Boiler Column Straightening Upper Load Conditions

An accidental boiler explosion that occurred at Southern California Edison Company's Alamitos Steam Station provided engineers with an opportunity to test their design under extreme loading conditions. A background of the amount and type of structural damage a major explosion may inflict on a structure is provided together with the resistance afforded by such a structure when properly designed, and finally what may be considered a unique method in straightening a major deflected column, under load, to its initial position is presented. A complete and thorough survey was made of the entire structure. Information obtained was analyzed, and a planned and carefully controlled procedure for its repair was established. Restoration of the structure was planned with the following in mind: Noninterference with other reconstruction efforts, maintenance of proper safety requirements, and keeping costs within desirable limits. A method of cold-pulling the deflected column to its pre-explosion position by the use of lift-slab jacks was used. The use of lift-slab jacks allowed great flexibility in the reconstruction effort in that the jacks were relatively small, easily installed in areas that would not interfere with other efforts, readily available, easily controlled, and of a capacity that would meet job requirements.