An Investigation into Demolition of Complex Structures

Scarcity of buildable land, aging infrastructure, and changes in urban environments create an increasing demand for the demolition of existing structures. Often, demolition is planned and executed by a demolition contractor relying on experience and judgment for techniques and sequencing. Appropriate for some types of structures, such as small residential buildings with large offsets from surrounding structures, demolition plans not prepared by an engineer may not be appropriate for larger and more complex structures, where the consequences of unforeseen structural behavior during demolition can be dramatic or even fatal. …