The World Trade Center disaster : Analysis and recommendations

Abstract

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 brought about the destruction of two symbols of American economic strength, the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. These towers remained standing for some time after the initial aircraft impact, allowing many occupants to escape, but eventually collapsed to the ground. Much research has been done to determine the precise mechanisms of collapse, but there is not yet a consensus. This thesis explores and summarizes the leading theories to date, with particular emphasis on the ongoing research by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Several ideas for improving building performance and for preventing progressive collapse are also presented.