Damage assessment of a cement plant partially collapsed depending on various causes

Abstract

This study aims at examining the possible causes of the brittle collapse of a tertiary air duct system under vertical loads. Problems related to the design and construction stages were examined. The entire process was illustrated using a tertiary air duct case study in a cement plant. In the plant, the tertiary air duct collapsed without any earthquake, blast, or impact effects. The current study includes a field study, examination of an original/revised design project, and numerical simulation. In the first stage of the study, the existing state of the collapsed system and its compliance with static and mechanical projects were examined. Secondly, a two-dimensional finite element analysis was performed to determine project eligibility. The causes of the system were determined based on the data obtained in the former stages. The results showed that the causes of partial collapse included project errors, construction faults, and project incompatibilities.