NCJ Number
189055
Journal
Forensic Examiner Volume: 10 Issue: 1/2 Dated: January/February 2001 Pages: 17-19
Date Published
2001
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the data collected by the Federal Building Performance Assessment Team (BPAT) regarding the performance of the nine-story portion of the bombed Murrah Building (Oklahoma City), which sustained irreparable damage and significant collapse in the April 19, 1995 bomb blast.
Abstract
Structural drawings show that the Murrah building consisted of cast-in-place ordinary reinforced concrete framing with conventionally reinforced columns, girders, beams, slab bands, and a one-way slab system. Exterior spandrels that supported the exterior curtainwall were exposed concrete with a vertical-board-formed finish. Although nothing in the original documents, applicable code, or interviews indicated that blast or earthquake loading was to be considered in the design, the required wind-load resistance did provide substantial resistance to lateral load. Plans called for and confirmed that the design's live load requirements followed those of the Oklahoma Building Code. According to general notes on the structural drawings, the Murrah Building was all reinforced concrete that was proportioned, fabricated, and delivered in accordance with the American Concrete Institute Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete. The level of structural detailing and the use of schedules with full dimensions for all slab, T-beam, spandrel beam, transfer girder, and column reinforcing bars were significantly better than normally expected for buildings of this type. Part II presents the findings of the laboratory studies and the resulting conclusions of the team. 3 references