Journal of Applied Engineering (JOAE), 2 (10), October-2014 (Volume-II, Issue-X)

ISSN: 2348-4802

A Study on Structural Failures & Lessons Learnt

Mohammad Adil Dar1, Prof (Dr) A.R. Dar2 , Jayalakshmi Raju3 ,Shazia Shafi Bhat4
1&3
PG Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Kurukshetra University, Haryana, India
2
Professor & Head, Department of Civil Engineering, NIT, Srinagar, India
4
PG Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, NIT, Srinagar, India

Abstract: Structural failure is the loss of the load carrying capacity of the component or member within structure
or structure itself. Structural failure initiated when the material is stressed to it’s strength limit which causes the
cracks & excessive deformation. Any structure has several components/members like super-structure, sub-structure
& foundations. The loads of super structures transfers to the sub-structure & then sub-structures to the
foundations. Like a building frame receive the loads from super structure & transfer to the sub-structures & finally
to the foundations. Similarly a highway bridge to support the live load due to traffic & dead load of bridge itself &
several other loads such as snow loads, wind loads etc. Then when the structure does not able to transmit these
loads safely to the foundations then it under go failure which is called the structural failure [1][2].

Keywords: Structural failure, stressed, load transfer, foundations, bridge.

INTRODUCTION lateral ties. Insufficient lap length is also a major

We can learn much more from failure than success.
We can also say that the failure is stepping stone of
the success but there is a high price to pay in terms
of energy, time & money. The structural failure is
the night mare of Architects, Engineers, Contractors
& clients. It hunts the construction industry resulting
the humiliations, financial catastrophe & at time loss
of the life[3][5].It is interesting to know that the
failures have occurred in the past, to occur today &
continue to occur in future. The process of learning
from experience & education is a life time exercise
beginning at birth, continuing through childhood, on
to university & then to the practical life. Professional
training has different needs & experienced based on
individuals needs.
CAUSES OF STRUCTURAL FAILURE
DESIGN DEFICIENCIES
 Poor detailing at the design stage. FIGURE-1
shows failure caused by insufficient lateral ties in
the column as well as the spacing between the

design deficiency because the reinforcement bar
can slip from each other, so the lap distance should
be sufficient to form a stronger bond between the
reinforcement.FIGURE-2 shows insufficient lap
length.
 Insufficient allowance for expansion or
contraction.
 Absence of weathering of construction materials.
 Incorrectly placed damp – proof courses.
 Poor jointing between different materials or
components. Mostly the structure fails due to the
inadequate connection that is connection between
the beam-column, beam-slab. We always design
the beam, slab & column but we do not
concentrate on the design of the beam-column or
beam-slab design.
 Poor specification & inadequate provisions for
access to carry out maintenance activities.
 Lack of adequate consideration of future
maintenance problems.

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 Journal of Applied Engineering (JOAE), 2 (10), October-2014 (Volume-II, Issue-X)

FIGURE-1 Failure is caused by the insufficient FIGURE-2 Insufficient lap length

lateral ties &more spacingbetween them in the
column

CONSTRUCTION ERROR  Failure of client, builder, designer or architect to

 Lack of supervision during construction period. reject sub-standard materials.
 Failure to understand or follow exactly the  Improper inspection of materials by supplier or
specifications and/or drawings. receiver.
 Failure to replace defective work.  Inadequate storage facilities on site.
 Failure of Designer/Architect/or Engineer  Inadequate/or inconsistent mixing of materials on
monitoring work in progress. site.
 Lack of skilled labor.
 Over emphasis or need for quantity rather than FOUNDATION FAILURE
quality. Even an excellently designed and constructed
 Failure to fully appreciate the consequences of structure will not stand on a bad foundation.
shady or poor and/or materials. FIGURE-3 shows Although the structure will carry its loads, the earth
failure caused by the corrosion in reinforcement & beneath it may not be able to sustain loads so it will
inadequate concrete cover. cause whole structure failure. The Leaning Tower of
Pisa is a famous example of bad foundations[4][7],
but there are many others. The displacements due to
bad foundations may alter the stress distribution
significantly. A small eccentricity can result great
moment and failure of structure.

A Foundation is subjected to the following loads

FIGURE-3 Failure caused by the corrosion in
reinforcement & inadequate concrete cover.
FAULTY MATERIALS
 The dead load of the building, which is the sum of
the weights of the frame; the floors, roofs, and
walls; the electrical and mechanical equipment;
and the foundation itself.
 The live load, which is the sum of the weights of
the people in the building; the furnishings and
equipment they use; and snow, ice, and water on
the roof.
 Wind loads, which can apply lateral, downward,
and uplift loads to a foundation.

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 Journal of Applied Engineering (JOAE), 2 (10), October-2014 (Volume-II, Issue-X)
 Horizontal pressures of earth and water against
basement walls.
 In some buildings, horizontal thrusts from arches,
rigid frames, domes, vaults, or tensile structures.
 On some building sites, buoyant uplift forces from
underground water, identical to the forces that
cause a boat to float.
 During earthquake, horizontal & vertical forces
caused by the motion of the ground relative to the
building.
Requirements for a satisfactory foundation
 The foundation, including the underlying soil and
rock, must be safe against structural failure that
could result in a collapse.
 During the life of the building, the foundation must
not settle in such way as to damage the structure or
impair its function.
 The foundation must be feasible both technically
and economically and practical to build without
adverse effects to surrounding property.
HISTORY PENALTIES
In this era, the maximum structural failures are
caused by the human errors. Even the failure due to
the earthquake is also occurred due to the human
errors because generally we see that some structure
remains stable in the earthquake also.
Do we ever think why these structures remains
stable & others are fail. It is because the stability of
the structure depends upon the human errors & the
human errors in these structures was negligible.
Let us take a example, we must have seen some old
days structures which lasted for a decades, even a
centuries but do we ever think why these structures
lasted for a long time. This is due to the some simple
laws to prevent the failure by punishment of
defaulters. It might have worked. The some laws
given by the famous Babylon king HAMMURABI
(2200 BC) .According to him:
 If a builder built a house for a man & do not make
it’s construction firm & the house which he has
built collapse & cause the death of the owner of
the house – builder should be put to death.
 If it cause the death of son of the owner of the
house – they shall put to death a son of that
builder.
 If it cause the death of a slave of the owner of the
house – he shall give to the owner of the house a
slave of equal value.
 If it destroy property, he shall restore whatever it
destroyed, & because he did not make the house
which he built firm & it collapsed, he shall built
the house which collapsed at his own expense.
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 If a builder built a house for a man & do not make
it’s construction meet the requirement & a wall fall
in, that builder shall strengthen the wall of his own
expense.
Similarly NAPOLEONIC (1804) has given a law
against the failure that, If there is a loss in
serviceability in a constructed project within 10
years of its completion because of a foundation
failure or from poor workmanship, the contractor
and architect (luckily not the engineer!) will be sent
to prison.
METHODOLOGY
Physical observations
The physical analysis was concreted on :
 The splitting of hinges.
 Corrosion of reinforcing bar at different parts of
the structure.
 Distress in column.
 Cracking of raft beams.
 Cracks in trough ribs.
Structural design check
According to the name this is understood that we
shall check the design & drawing of the structure.
NDT (Non Destructive Testing)
This test is done for check the strength of the
hardened concrete by the following methods.
 Ultrasonic test:- This is done for check the
compressive strength of the column.
 Rebound hammer test:- This is also done for
check the compressive strength of the column. In
this method first we remove the plaster on the
columns at selected points (top, centre & bottom)
then equipment is done in bare concrete.
 Load test:- This test is done for check the
structural soundness of the beams, slabs & check
the deflection by the dial gauge & compare this
deflection with maximum allowable deflection.
NECESSARY STEPS FOR
IMPLEMENTATION
•Creating awareness in the community, policy
makers, even technicians / engineers and all
stakeholders.
• Translate available knowledge in end user's
language.
• Capacity Building of Engineers/Technicians.
• Develop demand and supply mechanism for
seismic safety.
CONCLUSION
It is impossible to control all the above factors
during design, construction and occupations stages
 Journal of Applied Engineering (JOAE), 2 (10), October-2014 (Volume-II, Issue-X)
of buildings. However, considering these factors and
minimizing their effect will definitely reduce the
amount and need for maintenance. To avoid or
minimize the failures of structure we must learn
from the mistakes which other has committed due to
any reason. Lesson learned from the past structural
failures is discussed below:
 The design should be checked manually by the
various designers before it is released for the
construction.
 Quality control of material and construction,
excellent workmanship and work according to the
drawing must be ensured by the site supervisor.
 Integrity and continuity in construction such that it
forms a continuous load path between the
foundations to all diaphragm levels should be
maintained.
 Sufficient gap must be provided to avoid close
proximity or pounding effect.
 Proper reinforcement should be ensured according
to the cross sectional area of the structural
member. Temperature reinforcement should also
be provided to nullify freezing and thawing.
 Shear wall should be employed for increasing
stiffness in both the principle direction.
 To avoid short column effect proper attention
should be given while designing these members.
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1) Structural Failures – Case Histories by R.
JAGADISH.
2) "Breakdown: Deadly Technological
Disasters", by Neil Schlager, Visible Ink
Press, Detroit, 1995.
3) "Set Phasers on Stun", by Steven Casey,
Aegean Publishing Co., Santa Barbara,
1993.
4) "To Engineer is Human", by Henry
Petroski, Vintage Books, New York, 1992.
5) "Design Paradigms : Case Histories of
Error and Judgment in Engineering", by
Henry Petroski, Cambridge University
Press, Cambridge, 1994.
6) "Civil Engineering Practice: Engineering
Success by Analysis of Failure", by David
D.A. Piesold, McGraw-Hill Professional,
New York, 1991.
7) "Inviting Disaster: Lessons From the Edge
of Technology", by James R. Chiles, Harper
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