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From:
http://enr.construction.com/news/buildings/archives/040712-1.asp
ENR.com, Engineering News Record, the section on “Buildings/Investigations”, an article dated 7/12/2004 by Peter Reina entitled:
“Questions Raised Over Steel Roof Struts
Probe says steel tubes, not columns, are likely trigger for Paris airport’s concourse collapse”
Peter Reina writes:
“External tubular steel struts puncturing the shell-like concrete roof of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport’s newest concourse likely triggered the May 23 [2004] collapse, say preliminary findings of a French government probe released last week. But investigators have yet to explain why the structure’s behavior changed suddenly on a Sunday morning, 30 months after its construction. The collapse killed four people.
“The lower number of struts in play reduced the bending strength of part of the 650-meter-long shell, causing it to break in flexure, suspect investigators. [The collapsed section is indicated 3 slides hence and shown 4 slides hence.] However, a conclusive explanation is unlikely before the end of this year, says Jean-Armand Calgaro, one of four experts on the government commission. The commission, appointed two days after the collapse and led by senior civil engineer Jean Berthier, was not asked to apportion blame.
“Berthier’s team has ruled out a shearing failure of columns supporting the flat tube-shaped roof as the cause of the disaster. Subject to further surveys, the commission also eliminated foundation pile settlement and the legacy of known column construction problems as likely causes.
“Forming part of the airport’s terminal 2E, the concourse is located parallel to the main passenger building and is linked to it by an “isthmus” connector (ENR 5/31 p. 10). On both sides of the central isthmus building, a set of three elevated passages enter the concourse [see 4th slide from this one, which shows the collapsed section of Terminal 2E].”
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