Common causes of building failures

1. 1. Shear Failure
2. Bending/Flexural Failure
3. Compression Failure
4. Tensile Failure
5. Foundation Failure
6. Buckling
TYPES OF STRUCTURAL FAILURES
@Civil_Engineering101

2. 1. Shear Failure-
this occurs when the loading on
a buildings component exceeds
the bond between the molecules
of the material used or the
strength of the connection
between one member and
another. Shear Failure mostly
occurs at joints between columns
and beams, or solid walls and
floor slabs.
TYPES OF STRUCTURAL FAILURES
@Civil_Engineering101

3. 2. Bending/Flexural Failure-
This occurs near the mid section
of vertical components (Columns,
walls) and horizontal
components (beams, floor slabs).
It occurs due to loading that
induces a moment that is greater
than the internal moment
capacity of the material. Steel
fails elastically (slowly) while
concrete fails plastically
(suddenly).
TYPES OF STRUCTURAL FAILURES
@Civil_Engineering101

4. 3. Compression Failure-
This occurs when a force is
applied near the centre of
eccentricity of a member
towards it's centre of gravity. The
member buckles slightly before
yielding or cracking almost
immediately. Failure occurs near
the mid section of the member.
This type of failure occurs in
stocky members.
TYPES OF STRUCTURAL FAILURES
@Civil_Engineering101

5. 4. Tensile Failure-
This occurs when a force is
applied near the center of
eccentricity of a member away
from its center of gravity. There
is no buckling. In concrete, the
member cracks almost
immediately while in steel, the
member elongates and becomes
thin before snapping. Failure
occurs near the midsection.
TYPES OF STRUCTURAL FAILURES
@Civil_Engineering101

6. 5. Foundation Failure-
this occurs when the soil acts in
a matter that induces stress in
the buildings foundation in an
unexpected way.
Types of Foundation Failures are:
(a) Global failure
(b) Differential Settlement
(c) Sliding Failure
(d) Bearing Capacity Failure
(e) Soil liquefaction due to
earthquakes
(f) Rotational Failure
TYPES OF STRUCTURAL FAILURES
@Civil_Engineering101

7. 6. Buckling-
this type of failure occurs in slim
members (e.g steel I beams and
columns) and is due to the
excessive bending of a member
due to compressive load or a
resultant point load applied
perpendicular to the member.
The failure is elastic (slow).
Buckling also reduces the load
capacity of the member causing
it to fail more quickly than
expected. There are two types of
buckling: normal buckling and
lateral torsional buckling.
TYPES OF STRUCTURAL FAILURES
@Civil_Engineering101