Re: That was then..

[Mike Harrelson <mikeh@mindspring.com>]

On Wed, 10 Oct 2001, Reuben Bruchez wrote:

> On Wed, 10 Oct 2001 13:33:15 +0100, Robbie Honerkamp wrote:
> >"Anyone wanna bet that the World Trade Center could survive
> >an 767-300 impact?"
> >
> >http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviation/read.main/33629
>
> >1/4/
> >
> >Robbie
>
> The funny thing is, despite the tragedy which happened, the building
> *did* survive the impact of the plane hitting it.  What it didn't do
> was hold up to the heat of the sustained ignited jet fuel fire of a
> long-range flight.  If it wasn't as well designed as it was, then we
> would have seen a much larger tragedy, and less survivors.  The twin
> towers didn't directly collapse from the impact of the planes hitting
> it...they collapsed from a large, very hot, uncontrollable fire.

True.  The impacts were probably absorbed fairly easily.  Nearly all modern
Skyscrapers (80's and later) are built using re-enforced concrete (steel
supports encased in concrete).  Both the WTC and the Empire State building
(ESB) are steel only structures.  Since the ESB was built in the 1930's that
was understandable.  The WTC though is only 30 years old.  I was surprised, to
say the least, that a structure that large was built purely with steel.  I
understand now why it collapsed.  Now concrete isn't that resistant to 2000
degree heat, but it would certainly protect the steel within it much better
than nothing at all and could still help support the building even under those
conditions.

Eh, what they need now is graphite shields encased around the steel and/or the
concrete.  Graphite would laugh at 2000 degree heat.

-- mikeh
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|  Mike Harrelson: Unix Systems Administator/Engineer - Earthlink, Inc.   |
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