Failure Consequences and Reliability Acceptance Criteria for Exceptional Building Structures:

a study taking basis in the failure of the World Trade Center Twin Towers

Authors

Faber, M.H., Fontana, M., Kübler, O. and Knobloch, M.

Abstract

Modern structural design codes provide a cost and time efficient framework for the safe design of civil engineering structures. These structural design codes have been calibrated for ordinary structures which are built normal purposes built in usual dimensions and designs, using well-known materials and constructed and maintained according to established procedures. Structures which fall beyond the application area of design codes may be seen as exceptional structures and specific target levels of reliability are required.
The report considers the consistent assessment of target reliability levels by taking basis in both, the structural reliability theory and the Bayesian decision theory. In particular, the report illustrates how sustainability and follow-up consequences may be incorporated in the decision process for optimal structural design. Furthermore, the vulnerability and robustness of structures is assessed.
After a thorough reporting and assessment of the consequences which are associated to the failure of the World Trade Center Twin Towers, principle studies show how the proposed framework may be applied in the design of extraordinary structures.

Published in/by

IBK Report No. 285, ISBN 3-7281-2976-3, July 2004

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