Here's Cause Of Miami Condo Collapse Champlain Condo Towers, Surfside

Summary

This video examines the collapse of a building, analyzing structural issues and potential causes. It highlights the failure of support columns, focusing on the differences in column sizes between the collapsed and standing towers. The video attributes the collapse to water damage from faulty waterproofing and poor drainage on the pool deck, which led to spalling and corrosion of the rebar. The speaker ties these issues to a 2018 engineering report and suggests that the failure of the pool deck triggered the collapse. The video promises further analysis in upcoming content.

Takeaways

• 😀 The failure of the support columns around the pool deck was critical to the building's collapse, with concrete stripping off the rebar, suggesting poor material conditions.
• 😀 The pool and hot tub areas were more resilient due to their thicker, more robust concrete, contrasting with the fragile pool deck structure.
• 😀 The sequence of collapse began with the pool deck, followed by the center of the building, starting from the failure of five key columns near parking space 78.
• 😀 Witnesses and videos confirmed that the collapse did not occur all at once, but rather in multiple phases, with different sections falling at different times.
• 😀 The collapse was not due to a controlled explosion, as some theories suggested, but rather a progressive failure from weakened columns and structural damage.
• 😀 Columns in the still-standing part of the building were noticeably larger and stronger than those in the collapsed sections, raising questions about design choices and possible structural flaws.
• 😀 An engineering report from 2018 highlighted the failure of waterproofing under the pool deck, which allowed water damage to accumulate, leading to structural deterioration.
• 😀 The building's original design was flawed, as the concrete slab beneath the pool deck was flat and did not allow proper drainage, contributing to water pooling and eventual damage.
• 😀 Water intrusion and pooling on the pool deck likely led to corrosion of the rebar beneath, which caused the concrete to deteriorate (spalling) and weakened the structure.
• 😀 The collapse likely resulted from a combination of poor waterproofing, inadequate drainage, and lack of timely maintenance, which allowed the structural issues to escalate exponentially.

Q & A

What was the main structural issue that contributed to the building's collapse?

The primary issue was the failure of the pool deck, which led to the collapse of several key support columns. This was due to a combination of poor waterproofing and design flaws, particularly the non-sloped concrete slab that allowed water to accumulate and cause rusting of the rebar, leading to spalling and structural failure.

Why did the concrete fail to adhere to the rebar in the columns?

The concrete may have been too wet, improperly mixed, or not allowed to cure properly, leading to the failure of its bond with the rebar. This caused the concrete to strip away from the rebar, compromising the columns' ability to support the structure.

How did the pool deck collapse affect the rest of the building?

The pool deck collapsed first, taking down several columns with it. The building above the deck then collapsed in stages, beginning with the central portion and moving outward, which ultimately led to the entire building's failure.

What is the significance of the column sizes in the buildings that remained standing?

The building that remained standing had much larger, thicker columns compared to the surrounding structures. This may have contributed to its ability to stay intact, as the smaller columns in nearby buildings were more vulnerable to failure under stress.

What role did water accumulation play in the collapse?

Water accumulation on the pool deck, due to improper drainage and the lack of a slope in the concrete slab, led to prolonged exposure to moisture. This caused rusting of the rebar and spalling, weakening the structure over time and contributing to the collapse of the pool deck and the building.

How did the collapse of the pool deck impact the garage below?

Despite the pool deck collapse, the garage below did not experience extensive damage initially. The rubble pile from the collapse stopped short of the garage, indicating that the deck collapsed before the building above it began to fall.

What were the key findings from the 2018 engineering report?

The 2018 engineering report identified several issues, including failed waterproofing, cracks, and spalling on the pool deck. It also noted the absence of a slope in the concrete slab, which contributed to water pooling. The report warned that these issues, if not addressed, would worsen over time.

Why did the engineering report mention a design flaw in the original plans?

The report pointed out that the original design failed to include proper sloping of the concrete slab beneath the pool deck. This flaw allowed water to pool and seep into the structure, causing significant damage over time, including rusting of the rebar and weakening of the concrete.

What was the result of the failure to repair the waterproofing?

The failure to repair the waterproofing as outlined in the 2018 report led to 'exponentially' worsening structural damage. As the waterproofing deteriorated, water intrusion caused further spalling and weakening of the concrete, ultimately contributing to the collapse of the pool deck and building.

How was the collapse observed from different angles in the video?

The collapse was observed in stages, with the first section falling, followed by the second and third parts. The video shows a clear sequence of the building’s collapse, disproving some theories that the building fell all at once or as a result of a controlled explosion.