Reply #93: technical points

[OudeVanDagen]

is all we engineers have to argue ... we're stuck ... all we have are technicalities ... and it ain't easy. Example: did that twisted column get that way from drift, from thermal exposure, from decending impacts, from ground impact or collateral ground impact? Is it one of the above, two of the above or all of the above? Techically speaking of course ... guesswork isn't allowed; a civilized society demands answers. It is not my intention to be combative but I need to steal some of your wording 'more than once on these forums' I've noticed folks with no collapse experience what-so-ever who have also not read anything about any collapse incidents speaking about .... and broadbrushing ... fire temps, building components, telescoping columns, and other technical issues. The devil IS indeed in the details.

A while back ... and apologies if I'm wrong ... you stated you could reduce the cost of building demolition by simply starting small office fires. Well, in all honesty you are on to something ... beacuse it works .... arsonists have been doing it for years; buildings aren't as indestructible as thought, steel isn't as strong or resistant to heat as it is being given credit for, and most of those connections in steel buildings act as hinges NOT supports after an extreme event induces motion to a structure. It's technical, not guess work, not gut feelings, not what we're told to say (never happens) and not always the obvious.

There are ... worldwide of course ... collapse incidents everyday and too few investigators to evaluate them. There are plenty of lawyers and doctors, but far too few collapse investigators. Why is that? Bad pay and too much travel to lousy 'don't dare drink the water' countries? Maybe ... but collapse investigation is a technical field that takes time ... TIME ... that's why FEMAs rush to judgement collapse report is crap.

When there is finally some kind of resolution to the proprietary issues of WTC collapse reports and more become public you'll see two things; disagreement among the investigation, and ... you guessed it .... no explosives. No magical collapse ... just technical talk.