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Drainage A look at Structural Failures of the Sports Stadium at
Sewerage Kuala Terrengganu, Malaysia, and How to avoid
Sanitary Landfills Structural Failures
Water Supply
Shore Protection It was reported in June 2009, in Kuala Terrengganu, Malaysia, that the
Jetty & Wharfs roof of a RM300 mil (US $90 mil) Sports Stadium collapse suddenly just
after it was recently completed.
Subdivision
Steel Structures No one was injured, The damage was extensive, as practically the whole east wing came crush RC Water Tanks
Conc Structures down at 8am in the morning, a few cars were damaged. The contractor was a South Korean -----------------
Company while the Consultants were local Malaysians. The Repairs were carried and costs
Marine Structures
about RM35mil (US$10mil).
Bridge Design
Water Tanks Since the works were still within the defects liability period which is usually 12 months or more
for such a massive project, the cost of remedial works were borne by the Contractor. What
AutoCAD Tips
other issues involved would be under the relevant authorities.
Site Supervision
Construction An Investigation Committee was immediately set up with involvement from the Public Works
Department, Ministry of Works, Related Agencies, Experts, and an extensive report was later
MyCESMM compiled.
Computers
Some of the photographs of the roof stadium collapse would be revealing :-
Software
Structural Failures
Online Degrees
General Articles Aerial Picture of the Collapsed
Roof. Note that the other
Backup Files structures are intact, it is only
Bomba Inspection the roof which failed and the
Expert Engineers roof is actually a Proprietary
Space Frame Structure, and not
Eurocodes Codes designed and fabricated by local
contractors on site. Note also
that Space Frames are all
Pinned Jointed and designed
based on direct forces, tension
or compression.

Part of the Roof Structure which

shows the Space Frames
involved

More pictures showing the

extensive collapse of the whole
roof.

Note that Space Frames are

interdependent on each other
for strength. It is very weak and
unstable until it is erected and
forces are transmitted from top
down. It is also very sensitive
and any failure would be more
of a "domino effect"

Extensive Lives would have

been lost had the Sports
Stadium been occupied during
the Malaysia Games !

Designers and particularly

Structural Engineers must be
acutely aware that any
structures you do must never
fail under any circumstances, as
 any failures could result in
collapse and lost of lives, not to
say very costly.

Proprietary Space Frame

Causes of Collapse of the Roof Structure

The Reports by the Investigation Committee highlighted a few factors which could have
contributed to the failure of the roof structures as summarised below :-

The design was inadequate

The roof was not erected properly resulting in misalignment
No quality control on Site
Materials and Workmanship not in accordance to specifications
Alternative designs from Contractor was adopted without proper analysis

The above sounds too familiar and so common in our construction industry. Almost every sites
are faced with these issues. In fact, structures are very resilient and would not have been
catastrophic in collapse, even if under designed. The concept of limit state design takes account
of this, allowing collapse to be progressive rather than catastrophic. Only steel framed
structures are more prone to collapse especially during erection period, and particularly for 3D
space frame structures.

The BIG Question is "Who is responsible for this?"

It is natural for everyone to point at the Contractor first and then the Consultants, but in
many cases the Employer or Owner are to be blamed. Investigations can never be final and the
cases will drag on for ages usually to the courts. The best approach is to AVOID this ever
happening to you and your projects, whether you are a Contractor, a Consultant or an
Employer. In almost all cases, this can be avoided.

Take a Vote

Free Poll by Brolmo.com

How to Avoid Structural Failures for your Projects?

As a Civil Engineer & Structural Engineer for the Project :-

1. Do not over use software in Engineering or Structural Analysis unless you know
exactly what you are doing. Software are very complex tools, and may not be correct. If
you ask the software vendor if there is any warranty that using their software will not
cause collapse, chances are nobody will give you that guarantee. So whether you use it
correctly or wrongly, the risk is on yourself. Use software only for alternative checks and
analysis, and comparative designs or for designs of a similar structure which you already
know works correctly. Unless you are familiar with normal calculations and analysis that
your were taught in Universities, and have some real working experience in manual
approach, avoid software tools. In short, software are for experienced engineers only,
and never for green horns. In the case of the Collapse of the Stadium Roof above,
manual calculations should have been performed for key structures, and complimentary,
additional analysis by proprietary software in 2D & 3D, performed by specialist only. Use
of excel, mathcad, or any spreadsheet and self programmed software like autolisps,
visual basic, etc, are all recommended.
2. Always look at Structural Forms, Shapes and Overall Stability. This is part
common sense, part experience and part engineering. Trusting your sixth sense would be
an added advantage. If there is something wrong in the design or construction take a
second or third look, and consultations with your peers if you must, to ensure you get a
good sleep.
3. Be aware that stability is 3D while most engineering analysis is 2D. Even a lattice
girder is a 3D structure even though we design in 2D. Ever heard of a Two Legged Table?
Never, its always 4 legged or 3 legged to be seated and stable. So think 3D. The above
Roof was constructed using Space Frame made of tubing and pinned jointed. This is 3D
design, and behave more like 4D. why 4D? because it is still Unstable in 3D and would
require supports fixed in position before it is stable. So take great care with 3D structures
with 4D collapse mechanism.
4. Always Check Drawings produced by draftsman in autocad form and printed
form, not once but several times particularly on critical structures. Check also drawings
released to contractors because with ease of cad system, changes could be accidental.
5. Ensure that you Supervise Full-Time On-Site. Some employers or clients want to
supervise themselves or even not at all. In this case you have to make sure that they
understand that in so doing, they are responsible for any failures and mismanagement.
Some employers want to save money by using their own manpower (usually without
design or construction experience) to do "management" supervision works themselves.
This is a wrong, irresponsible thinking and sadly, some large corporations and
government agencies are still doing this without understanding the risks involved for their
staff, the public and the projects. Ad-Hoc or Part-Time Supervision is flawed in everyway
and cannot be justified under any circumstances !
6. Let specialist do specialist Works. This is the most common flaws in our construction
industry. There are General Contractors and there are Specialist Contractors. If you are
supervising the works, make sure contractors use specialist where required. As an
example, had the roof space frames be designed, fabricated, erected, commissioned by
 specialist then it would not have collapse! What constitute specialist works? You will need
to define clearly in the contract documents early, include Proprietary Products & Services.
7. Do not accept Contractor's proposal unless you are able to carry out extensive
evaluation yourself. Many Contractors come with proposals for changes which can involve
structural changes or non-structural such as using alternative materials. Changes can be
good if done with good intentions and to solve problems at site. Structural changes
should be carefully checked by yourself. If it involves proprietary structures such as
engineered steel, space frames, slip forms, prefabricated sections, pre stressing, etc,
they should be carefully studied. A proposal by contractor to have his own changes
stamped and certified by an engineer is not good enough unless the credibility of the
engineer can be assessed. The ultimate goal is to ensure that your designs are not
abused as you will be responsible at the end of the way, no matter what the employer,
owner or contractor do. Bear in mind that you are the expert here.
8. Always recheck your designs compared to site conditions during the time of
construction. This is important as in many cases, site changes in itself, or the
surroundings may make your design criteria obsolete which can happen.
9. Design for the Future - All structures are designed with a life span of at least 50 to 100
years or even must be stable "forever". Most engineers would not look beyond the site
environment, so would only include conditions within the site and not outside the site.
You can develop your own site but be aware that the surrounding development will affect
your structures equally, and predicting what will occur in future is part guesswork and
part intellectual research. E.g was the case of the Highland Towers collapse where
changes in the hill side conditions cause massive soil slips, toppling the Highland Towers.
10. Be Conservative in Design - there are many engineers who try to be real smart by
designing everything based on collapse or limit state and using limiting factors of safety
such as those below 1.6 and 1.4. Some structures which are difficult to analyse or
visualise would require more conservative factor of safety such as 2 or 3. Perhaps a new
approach using Factor of Uncertainty should be introduced into the design criteria to
allow for complex structures. Even Retaining Wall design is a complex structure due to
earth pressures uncertainty so a factor of safety of 2 or 3 would be reasonable for
overtopping or sliding failures.
11. Use Standards & Established Methods & Procedure when carrying out Calculations
and Designs. Building Codes must be followed, and let no one, except your peers to
influence your engineering judgement, bear in mind there are always too many happy
critics jumping on your back.

RM69 RM24.50

Design of Large Spans Structures using Space Frames

Space frame is rapidly gaining popularity as an efficient structural system for very large spans
such as aircraft hangers, manufacturing plants, airports, sports stadium, etc. These space
frames designs use high strength steel components usually tubes and jointed via pinned
connections to form any shapes, some very complex. It is usually pre-fabricated and easily
assembled on site. An incredible achievement.

Designed and constructed properly it is an advanced engineering form for the future.

Design Tips
"This picture shows a design
which would have been the
correct Structural Form for the
Sports Stadium Roof - a Main
Cantilever Truss Girder, with
roof sheeting supported by
triangular space truss, or simple
C-channels. A much simpler
structural analysis with 2D
design approach"

- MEC Engineers

Stadium Roof Plan.

Plan of Stadium

An Arched Roof (complex

shape), supported by
Proprietary Space Frame
(yellow), which in turn carried
by Cantilever Lattice Frame
(green).

Section of Stadium

Cantilever Lattice Frame (green)

can be Main Beams supported
by the Stadium RC Wall,
Proprietary Triangular Space
Frames (yellow) can be
spanning between the Main
Beams. Simple Structural Form,
easy to ensure analyse and
design.

Design Methods

Use Simple Statics for Cantilever

Lattice Beams, and Proprietary
Software for Triangular Space
Frames

- MEC Engineers

Some Design Considerations

Type A-Design - Lattice

Cantilever Frame can be
designed as Fixed Jointed
Frame. A simple Bending
Moment can be plotted. The
top chord will be in tension
and bottom chord in
compression. The diagonal
chords will be in tension and
compression alternately. You
can assume a cross section
 where the top and bottom
chords act like top and
bottom flanges of an I-beam
while the cross members act
as web of I-beam. This
design approach would give
greater rigidity, less
deflection. Circular hollow
sections should be used with
thicker walls and all welded
joints to be full.

Type B Design - Here the

Joints are all Pinned and
forces/loads from the roof are
assumed to be transmitted
through the joints. This is the
normal approach to design.
The pinned joints are bolted. It
is unstable unless supported in
the 3D direction. You can use
double C-channels, L-Angles or
I-sections.

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Authur- Philip Goh (B.Sc, MIEM, P.Eng. MICE, C.Eng) MEC Engineers, Civil & Structural Engineer HP: 016-8672189, Email: Widget: email cloaker