Page 358 - Forensic Structural Engineering Handbook

TEMPORARY STRUCTURES IN CONSTRUCTION 10.45

(c)

(d)
FIGURE 10.8 Brooklyn wall. (Continued) (c) Web of wide flange beam bent and top flange
rotated under the wall. (From R. T. Ratay Engineering, P.C.) (d) Another wall received temporary
lateral bracing after the catastrophic collapse. (From R. T. Ratay Engineering, P.C.)
criminal proceedings were started against the contractor, and the engineering investigations
were halted. OSHA did complete its report but has not released it for the public.
While this appears to be an extreme case, collapses of masonry walls during construction
are chronic occurrences, and the cause is nearly always the total absence of temporary bracing.
Note, however, that a contractor wanting to actually design temporary wall bracing
would have a difficult time determining what the required lateral design load should be.
Where would he or she find that information? (See Fig. 10.8.)