An overview of long-span spatial grid structures failure case studies

Abstract

This paper provides insights on seven case failure studies for long-span hangars from 2004 to 2017 from different regions with unique failure factors leading to distress, partial or total collapse. A brief description of the cases studied entails project nature, and general technical and non-technical issues causing the hangar failures. A two-way approach (before and after collapse) features all the cases through commissions of inquiry and forensic studies done through fieldwork investigations, sensitivity, reliability, strength, capacity, and durability analysis. The cases studied were acted upon by static loads, and 83% of the failures occurred during service stage. The failures are as a result of human errors in design and calculations, ignorance of construction stages stakeholders leading to causative factors, stresses during erection and assembly process, randomness in loading and boundary conditions, over-reliance of computer analysis with no confirmation from a third-party analysis, under-estimation of member geometric and nodal imperfections primarily through joint rotations and members lack of fit, and manufacturing errors leading to residual stresses on the members. Achieve a preventive failure measure, detect design errors, and give comprehensive part details and construction stages, and analyze spatial grid structures with the correct boundary conditions to take advantage of support and joint stiffness. Utilize ductility and structural efficiency of under-stressed members, reinforce adjacent members on overstressed areas and conduct loading and unloading tests. Apply all loads, ventilation, and lighting fittings only at the joints to avoid load eccentricity. All the case studies are referenced from their principal sources and reports.