Tank Collapses and Kills Two

[JedClampett]

I'm a bit curious in the photos what the pattern of "dimples" in the remaining walls represent. It looks like where the horizontal reinforcing would be. I would expect that there would be bars sticking out, at least a few. Some of the resports said the walls were 40 ft. tall and 12 inches thick, which I suspect is not correct.
If those walls were meant to brace the outside wall, it looks like the connection between them failed (or wasn't there).

 

[SteveWag]

My guess is failed, grouted-in-dowels, epoxy or otherwise, thus the lack of extending re-bar.
Steve

 

[msquared48]

Or insufficient lap splice to develop the tension into the standing walls.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[CTW]

The attached picture appears to show bars sticking out of the wall, but there's not much sticking out.

 

[msquared48]

It would be interesting to get a closeup of the ends of the bars to see if there is any necking down, corrosion, or just bond loss. I am suspicious that there were no 90 degree intersecting bars provided.

How long was the wall standing and loaded before it failed, and any indication of the fluid height on the wall at the time of failure?

I see what appears to be a grout layer at the end of the wall. and it appears these are CIP, not precast.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[JedClampett]

If the bars projected into the walls any length, I would expect, after failure, a varying length of bar sticking out, some longer, some shorter. From CTW's attached photo it looks like every bar is generously, about two inches long. Plus the joint looks smooth, like it was a tilt up or something. Now it's possible that the intersecting interior walls were "training" walls, not meant to support the exterior wall, but that would result in a huge exterior wall.
I suspect that someone is burning calculations as we speak.

 

[msquared48]

Perhaps. Then again, there could have been unstable soil, allowing the wall to rotate and fail. Time will tell. Just glad I'm not there.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[CTW]

I don't know if anyone else saw this or not but one of the pictures shows the inside face of the wall adjacent to the pumps. You can see the outline of where the 90 degree interior wall adjoined it. However, I see no indication of rebar sticking out of either wall at this intersection. Interesting.

Photo is attached.

 

[hokie66]

The joint was definitely not monolithic. I imagine that what we see are ferrules with corroded stubs of screwed in bar. The joint wasn't sealed adequately, allowing corrosion of the bars over the years.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

What a way to die - covered in SH$T - might as well die at work - already covered in SH$T

 

[msquared48]

Remind me not to visit you at your office...

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[MikeHalloran]

Images 8,9,10,11 (of 22) suggest that the entire wall (which I'm estimating at 20 ft high) just folded down in essentially one piece, like a pickup's tailgate.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[JedClampett]

If the wall was supposed to be laterally supported by the intermediate walls and the attachment details didn't do the job, its likely to result in a foundation failure (due to overturning) and kaboom. And wall would stay intact, except at the corners.

 

[hokie66]

I like MikeH's description of the failure, like a tailgate. Jed, I don't think the wall would be intact after it hit the ground.