Failure of the Wroclaw needle tower's support during restoration

Abstract

The method of erection of steel structures can have a major impact on the development of adverse internal forces in the elements of the structure, resulting in even structural failure (Hotała and Rykaluk, 2012; I.O.Otunniyia,b, D.T. Oloruntobab, S.O. Seidub, 2018; Albermani et al., 2009 [6–8]). This paper describes the operations involved in the controlled laying down of the Needle Tower in Wroclaw. As the Tower was being lifted via rotation relative to its pivot supports the shank of one the supports was sheared. Consequently, the damaged support had to be reconstructed. The results of static load calculations of the Tower mast for the successive phases of laying down and uprighting the Tower are presented. On the basis of the calculations, material tests and numerical simulations an attempt is made to determine the causes and mechanism of the support shank failure during the lifting of the Tower.