Structural Failure

All efforts are essential to prevent structural
failure as it involves dangers to human life
and property. There are numerous causes for a
structural failure, and there is a requirement
for a proper analysis of all the factors before
construction.

Reasons Structures Fail
Defective construction that causes failure may
be due to numerous reasons that may not be
easy to predict before or during the
construction. The major causes of structural
failure are defective designs that have not
determined the actual loading conditions on
the structural elements. Inferior construction
materials may also be the cause since the
loads are calculated for materials of specific
characteristics. Structure may fail even if the
design is satisfactory, but the materials are
not able to withstand the loads. Employment
of unskilled labor on construction work is
another reason for structural failures.
Therefore, it is important that the owners,
designers, and builders are fully conscious of
the reasons of failure, and undertake all
preventive measures.

Design Deliberations
Construction imperfection in design and
manufacturing can be extremely expensive to
settle. Architectural design and construction
defects cause a structure to be improper for its
proposed intent. Correct structural design is
significant for all buildings, but exceptionally
essential for tall buildings. Even a slight
probability of failure is not acceptable since
the results can be disastrous for human life
and property. Therefore, civil engineers are
required to be exceptionally careful and
methodical in ensuring an appropriate
building design that can sustain the applied
loads. All failure modes need to be examined
by using modern software on the subject.
However, a designer and a builder cannot be
wholly confident about the design, and
therefore an appropriate factor of safety is
incorporated on the design calculations.

Defects Due to Inferior Workmanship

Defects due to inferior workmanship can lead
to structural damage and failure. Poor
workmanship is often the origin of
construction defects. Even superior quality
materials, if used imperfectly, may not
successfully serve the planned function, or be
as durable as designed. Poor workmanship is
the actual cause of most construction defects.
General defects due to poor workmanship are
leaking roofs, cracked floor tiles, shedding
paint, and other numerous problems. Proper
procedures have been created for almost every
construction operation, and only
implementation is required. A superior quality
paint that is applied to an unclean surface is
likely to fail, not because the material was
substandard, but because it was used with a
poor quality of work.

Foundation Failure

Many building foundations are not properly
designed and constructed for the existing site
soil conditions. Since suitable land is often
not available,
buildings are constructed
on soil that has
inadequate bearing
capacity to support the
weight of the structure.
Furthermore, the near
surface soils may consist
of expansive clays that
shrink or enlarge as the
moisture content is
changed. Movement of foundation may occur
if the clay moistening and drying is not
uniform. Vegetation, inadequate drainage,
plumbing leakage, and evaporation, may
cause soil variation. The top soil layers
provide the bearing capacity to hold the
structure, and ensure stability of the
foundation. If the bearing soil is inadequately
compacted preceding construction, the
foundation may be affected by settlement.