1. The Long Island Rail Road has experienced several wrecks in its years of operation. The complexity of the structure and how humans interact with it contribute to these disasters in a significant way.
One thing that must be considered is the importance of maintenance. In the Pickle Wreck disaster, a single pin was the reasoning for several deaths. The cotter pin used to keep a nut on a bolt was not properly installed and fell loose due to exposure to vibration. Being a vital part of the switch mechanism, the pin caused the train to actually fall off its tracks destroying a pickle factory. Since the switch was manually handled, the workers in charge of this switch were to blame for the accident. A complex design such as the switch is highly susceptible to human failure.
Another example of a Long Island Rail Road disaster is the crash in 1950. Due to construction to eliminate grade crossings, gauntlets were installed in order to redirect trains from the areas that were under construction. As a result, two trains side swiped each other causing the siding of the cars to peel. The cause of this was human error. It could have been avoided with proper scheduling and planning for which trains were to use that line at that time.
One development in railroad safety is the introduction of FRED’S, or Flash Rear-Ending Devices. These were created to replace the workers at the caboose. The device flashes to protect the train from other trains and also includes radios, transmitters, receivers, and sensors. If the train was to lose air, the FRED could sense the loss and send a message to the engineer so they could safely stop the train before any serious damage is done.
2.The complexity of design and the magnitude of the environmental conditions it faces could be detrimental to the success of a project. This is seen through the examination of previous environmental disasters and the impact they had on society.
When looking at society, it is important to understand the complexity of its structure and the infrastructure involved. Society is not only forced to adapt to the ever-changing world, but also to the environmental conditions it is exposed to. For example, after Hurricane Sandy there were several issues regarding both infrastructure, politics, and social justice.
The subway system in New York City was severely damaged after the hurricane hit. Due to extreme flooding in the subway lines, trains were forced to shut down. The floods caused damage in the concrete structures, power sources, and duct banks. Tracks and electrical equipment experienced deterioration from the increased exposure to salt water. As a result, the L Train which is one of the most popular lines in New York City transit was forced to shut down for eighteen months.
The shutdown was caused a societal issue because of the impact it had on people that depended on public transit every day. It is estimated that 400,000 people ride the L Train each day. This left citizens with major difficulties in modes of transportation. The storm also resulted in $5 billion in damages only regarding the subway system.
When designing the subways, most of the work is put into creating an efficient experience for the riders and the city. Construction is often focused on improving the quality of the structure. It is not often that extreme weather conditions are given the top priority when it comes to improving the subway lines. A normalization of deviance is found in the fact the environmental conditions are not granted the same magnitude of importance that efficiency is given. After Hurricane Sandy, the importance of preventing future flooding was recognized and certain actions were taken in order to avoid the detrimental effects of future environmental disasters.
3.Earthquakes pose a serious threat to areas that are exposed to high levels of seismic activity. California is one of the most popular hotspots in America and must take precautions when it comes to infrastructure. This requires California to conduct a great deal of research before construction. Data is collected from previous earthquakes and the ground motions and their potential paths are taken into consideration. With this information, engineers are able to determine the potential seismic activity in the area and plan accordingly.
Certain buildings are not able to withstand the impact of an intense earthquake. For example, the Sylmar Quake that hit San Fernando Valley in 1971 resulted in 58 deaths and 2,543 injuries. The infrastructure at the time was not able to handle the earthquake that registered as a 6.4 on the Richter scale. Following the quake, several building codes were enforced in order to eliminate the chances of a disaster like this ever happening again. These codes included ways that bricks were utilized in design. Certain specifications were set regarding the facing, bonding, and distance between headers.
Keeping in mind that California is highly susceptible to seismic activity, engineers design infrastructure to avoid failure. Buildings that include an L or T shape are usually avoided due to their susceptibility to torsion. Usually a vertical structure system is used including materials that relocate seismic forces into the ground. This exhibits the idea of preserving life rather than the structure itself. Some buildings are designed to experience deformation instead of collapsing allowing the people inside to evacuate. Although the building may have to be demolished due to the deformations, life would be preserved which is the main goal in the design.
One of the most popular structures in California is the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco. It is known for its ability to actually move with the earth in the event of an earthquake. It includes a concrete foundation that is nine feet deep that rests on top a steel and concrete block that is 52 feet deep into the ground. The aspect of the design that allows the structure to move with a quake is the exterior that includes a white precast quartz aggregate and four reinforcing rods on each floor. Also included I the design is a truss system that is found above the first floor. The system supports vertical and horizontal loading and is able to resist torsional movement. The design was put to the test in the Loma Prieta quake in 1989. With a 6.9 magnitude, the building experienced no structural damage. Although the building shook, it only swayed at the top levels and is expected to be able to withstand an earthquake with an even higher magnitude.
Reflection
This assignment was beneficial further informing me of the importance of understanding the magnitude of human failure. The complexity of a design does not end once the structure is completed. Humans are expected to interact with a design and humans are nowhere near perfect. By studying past failures that involved human error and complexity, future disasters could be avoided and potentially eliminated.
References
About the California Building Codes & Earthquakes. (n.d.). Retrieved April 04, 2018, from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/california-building-codes-earthquakes-2592.html
Harris, W. (2018, March 08). How Earthquake-resistant Buildings Work. Retrieved April 04, 2018, from https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/earthquake-resistant-buildings5.htm
Transamerica Pyramid Facts. (2018). Retrieved April 4, 2018, from http://www.pyramidcenter.com/tourism/pyramid-facts/#a10