“It’s All Fun and Games Until the Parking Garage Collapses” CASE STUDY: 2003 Tropicana Casino Parking Garage Collapse

Reinforced Concrete Matrix- concrete Can withstand high compression Relatively low tensile strength – Compressive strength : MPa ( psi) 1 – Tensile strength : MPa ( psi) 1 Reinforcement- rebar Steel bar Relatively low compressive strength High tensile strength – 70, ,000 psi

Composite Properties Concrete provides compression strength Rebar provides tensile strength Why is it important to have both? Image from

Ways Reinforced Concrete Can Fail Image from 1.html

2003 Tropicana Parking Structure Collapse Keating Construction Company of Philadelphia heading project – Subcontracted to Fabi Construction Company of Egg Harbor, NJ Emphasis on speed of construction rather than safety Part of the structure collapsed while worker was pouring concrete 4 workers killed, over 20 injured Company fined $119,500 by OSHA $101 million settlement paid to the families of those injured or killed

Challenge- Why Did the Structure Collapse? Split into groups of 4-5 people Elect a spokesperson Spend minutes hypothesizing why the structure fell based on images provided, as well as what you know Report your conclusions to the class

Reasons for Failure Rebar mesh used instead of rebar rods – Not a problem, except that the mesh was not laid far enough into the columns – Rebar mesh “ripped out” of columns Insufficient stabilization of drying concrete – Wet concrete is significantly heavier than dry concrete – Metal rods used to hold up drying concrete bent