Show THE knickerbocker THEATRE COLLAPSE A recent issue of the engineering news record gives a summary of the reports of two committees one from the association of general contractors and the other the washington chapter of the american association of engineers appointed to investigate the causes of the collapse of the knickerbocker theatre in washington a few months ago although the committees made their investigations independently the conclusions reached by each were practically identical the findings of these committees will be of interest to the engineering profession generally throughout the country and the west in particular because the service rendered in making the investigation can not fail to have is s influence in safeguarding the public in the future when contracting the erection of buildings intended for public use are under consideration the american association of engineers committee accordia according 6 to the article referred to 1 lists the fol following lowin 9 f features ea of the construction of the knickerbocker building a as most deserving criticism support of main truss on a thin wall lacking I 1 solidity and mass support of main truss on a skew bearing combined with lack of stiffness in the gusset between the end posts and the lower chord of the truss failure to anchor trusses and heavy heams beams into walls scant bearing at walls insufficient section area and inadequate details of truss members inadequate column bracing absence of lateral support at intermediate panels of truss absence of diagonal brabin bracing between other trusses inadequate strength of roof slab some of these defects are not believed by the committee to have been immediately contributory to the event of the collapse but that it would require a correction of all those listed to convert the building into a safe structure the commission recommended critical checking by a duly qualified structural engineer of all structural features of public buildings and suggested 6 thorough inspection of plans anu ana rigid field inspect inspection tion by public building officials as being in the interests of conscientious builders the eighth annual convention of the american association of engineers will be held ii i salt lake city june 5 6 7 and it is certain that much con consideration will be given bivien to just such subjects as that embraced in the associations committe report on the knickerbocker theatre disaster and all for the public good |