Collapse

Structural collapse is an especially terrifying form of disaster as we take the safety of our buidlings for granted. We might worry a bit about being in a car accident or even being struck by lightning, but almost none of us have ever been scared the roof would fall on our heads! In this book Wearne examines a number of cases where buildings and bridges did in fact collapse. Chapters discuss the Hyatt Regency walkway disaster of 1981, the Korean Dept store collapse in 95, and the Italian Viant dam failure (no collapse here) in 1963, among others. All disasters are unique in a way, but Wearne shows how decidedly true this is here. The Hyatt failed due to a fundamental design flaw oversight. The Seoul Dept store was built in a climate of corruption and greed. The Viant Dam faced geologic hazards of unusual kinds. The reader needs no engineering expertise to understand what is written here or how calamity plays out. Wearne wrote with the general public in mind. Perhaps the book will be updated with a chapter on the tower failures of 9/11.

Human error leads to structural engineering failures, and Phillip Wearne's Collapse provides an intriguing focus based on information gathered for the Learning Channel show on the topic. Eleven of the worst building failures in the last 50 years are examined in a title which is engrossing.