Title
Structural unsafety revealed by failure databases
Author
Terwel, K.
Boot, W.
Nelisse, M.
Publication year
2014
Abstract
After several major structural incidents in the Netherlands, such as the collapse of five balconies in Maastricht in 2001 resulting in two fatalities, various initiatives have been started to improve structural safety. Research studies were initiated on the characteristics, causes and consequences of structural incidents. In this paper the results of three of these research studies are compared. Each study uses different data sources: a confidential reporting system called ABC registration, Dutch arbitration awards on functional and structural failures and a study of structural incidents mentioned in a newspaper for the building industry, called Cobouw. A comparison of the results shows variations due to the type of sources used. However, general patterns have been derived from the three studies. The cause of structural failure on average was approximately 35% in the design phase, approximately 30% in the construction phase and approximately 10% in the use and maintenance phase. This paper shows that contrasting and combining results of different sources has improved the overview of structural incidents and has provided an insight into trends.
Subject
Building Engineering & Civil Engineering
SR - Structural Reliability
TS - Technical Sciences
Buildings and Infrastructure
Architecture
Built Environment
Failures
Risk & probability analysis
Safety & hazards
Construction industry
Failure (mechanical)
Fracture mechanics
Risk assessment
Structural integrity
Building industry
Construction phase
General patterns
Probability analysis
Reporting systems
Research studies
Structural failure
Structural safety
Safety engineering
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:cfd21cc1-c5da-433c-a117-01f29a042476
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1680/feng.13.00019
TNO identifier
492995
Publisher
Thomas Telford Services Ltd
ISSN
2043-9911
Source
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Forensic Engineering, 167 (1), 16-26
Document type
conference paper