Transcript Engineering Ethics

THE WORST STRUCTURAL
DISASTER IN U.S. HISTORY
Kansas City Hyatt Regency
7:05 PM, Friday July 17, 1981
Source: http://lowery.tamu.edu/ethics
114 dead, 200 injured
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Source: Levi & Salvadori, “Why Buildings Fall Down”
Skyway construction
ROOF TRUSS
GUEST
TOWER
HANGER
ROD
BOX BEAM
FUNCTION
BLOCK
4TH
FLOOR
SKYWAY
2ND FLOOR
SKYWAY
Adapted from: Levi & Salvadori, “Why Buildings Fall Down”
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Source: Levi & Salvadori, “Why Buildings Fall Down”
AS BUILT
AS DESIGNED
T  2Mg
T  2Mg
4th FLOOR
4th FLOOR
Mg
F  Mg
2nd FLOOR
Mg
F  2Mg
2nd FLOOR
Mg
F  Mg
Mg
F  Mg
Levi & Salvadori, “Why Buildings Fall Down”
Source: http://lowery.tamu.edu/ethics
Ethical Issues: Hyatt Regency Case
1. Who is ultimately responsible for checking the
safety of final designs as depicted in shop
drawings?
2. In terms of meeting building codes, what are
the responsibilities of the engineer? The
fabricator? The owner?
3. What measures can professional societies
take to ensure catastrophes like the Hyatt
Regency Walkways Collapse do not occur?
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Curent Configuration
http://www.sheratonkansascityhotel.com/gallery
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