Partial damage to the hall during a heavy rainfall

Abstract

Among numerous causes of failures of large-format facilities, the loads caused by weather phenomena count among most frequent. Failures are typically caused by snow or wind load, while damage due to rainstorm is rarer. The study shows one such case when, after around 6 months of operation, part of the large-area roof of a production and storage hall collapsed. The failure occurred after 13 min of heavy rainstorm; however, the conducted analysis showed that the rain volume was within the ranges specified by the relevant standards. A detailed analysis was conducted of the design assumptions, structural calculations and the original design documentation, showing a number of design and construction errors, the effects of which compounded. The most critical error was the underestimation of the water load on the exterior sections of the roof, combined with too high roof attic and the absence of overflow scuppers. The result was a gradual failure involving the profiled sheet deck sections, followed by exterior purlins and expansion joint purlins, and some reinforced concrete columns. The study provides a detailed description of the failure, presenting the results of the authors’ own structural calculations and specifying the design and construction errors. The sequence of events of the failure is also reconstructed. Finally, the proposed recommendation are outlined.