Author(s)

E. Yarimer & C.D. Brown

Abstract

The downward velocity of parts of buildings in the course of rapid collapse is compared with the velocity in free fall. The comparison shows that there are significant upward reactions acting on the falling parts. Based on laboratory tests on scaled down rubble, a power law compaction curve is introduced and the penetration of a falling mass into the rubble is predicted. It is shown that deeper layers of rubble can be represented by a modification in one of the parameters of the compaction curve. The use of a compaction curve in a computer model of the collapse is discussed. 1 Background Demolition of unwanted or defective medium rise ha

Keywords