![[Opinion] Choice of Structural form for a Monopitch Roof](https://structurescentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/featured-image-for-post-330x288.jpg)
You’re faced with the design of a steel truss for a monopitch roof spanning 18.35m. The roof is invariably enclosed hence is considered predominantly subjected to gravity loads, which scheme would you choose or consider more appropriate and why?
Category: Lessons from Failures
At the backdrop of any structural failure are lessons to be learnt, but do engineers actually learn anything?… Find out!
Approximately 50 years ago, the west gate bridge in Melbourne, Australia collapsed under construction killing over 30 people in what is now widely regarded as Australia’s worst construction accidents ever
At approximately 22 minutes past 6:00 pm on 21st of August 2009, a train was travelling across the viaduct, when the train driver suddenly noticed a portion of the viaduct had begun to collapse
Some failures are caused by the most stealthy human factors: corruption and greed. This situation is even worse in the third-world countries where the use of sub-standard materials, faulty construction and cutting corners around standard specifications is highly prevalent.
The second willow island, West Virginia cooling tower collapsed while still under construction on April 27, 1978, killing all 51 workers. It is regarded as the deadliest construction accident in the whole of US history.
At approximately 7pm that day, guests heard popping noises moments before the fourth-floor walkway fell into the second-floor walkway. Both walkway then fell to the ground killing 114 and severely injuring over 200 persons
Five years into the night of 18 January 1978, when the Civic Center had been exposed to its heaviest snow load since construction – heavy, but still only half of the design load. At 4:19 that morning, with the arena empty, the 1270t space frame collapsed in its entirety (see post cover mage). What was most disturbing, though, was that just six hours ago, more than 5,000 people were sitting below, watching a basketball game.
Picture the scenario, you’ve been tasked with the design of a complex large stadium roof and interestingly you’ve just received your new state of the art structural analysis software package. It’s exciting and going to be a perfect chance to demonstrate what can be accomplished if you have the right technology.