Structural Engineering Department

The Structural Engineering Department at Fay Engineering has investigated hundreds of cases involving:

Building Design and Analysis
Construction Cost and Schedule Analysis
Door Injuries
Fire Sprinkler Systems
Foundation Evaluation
Frozen Pipes and Water Damage
Heating and Air Conditioning
Wind Loading of Derricks
Scaffolding, Platform and Ladder Accidents
Synthetic Stucco Failure
Mining and Construction Equipment Failure

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Primary Structural and Mechanical Experts

Rex E. Paulsen

Carl F. Mangone

Texas A&M Bonfire Collapse

In December, 1999, Fay Engineering proudly accepted an invitation to participate in the Special Commission on the 1999 Bonfire Collapse at Texas A&M University. Our charter was to discern the design of the bonfire from thousands of pieces of evidence throughout its 90-year history.

Rex Paulsen led Fay Engineering's bonfire investigation team. Fay Engineering also provided computer illustrations and animations for use at the presentation of the findings. The final report and the images can be downloaded from the Texas A&M website.

The following is a brief synopsis of the bonfire collapse and Fay Engineering's contribution to understanding the event. Click on pictures to enlarge

The first is a representation of the center pole and guy ropes. Although the cross ties were not all installed at the beginning as this frame would indicate, this image demonstrates the location and configuration of all of the supporting elements.

The second image is a wireframe view of the composite stack with the guy ropes removed and the outhouse in place. This serves to demonstrate the size of the stack levels and their relationship to the center pole and cross ties.

The third image is a fully textured image of a completed, ready to burn, composite bonfire stack.

The collapse animation is based on photographic and measured evidence at the scene. Dimensions of the stack before collapse were obtained from photographic analysis. Positioning and relative dimensions of the stack after collapse were interpreted from schematic drawings of the collapsed bonfire structure, and from post-collapse photographs.

It is known that the center pole first broke above the first level. The dynamics of the fall involve an assumption of rotation about this breaking point. The falling motion for the animation was not simulated by any mathematical means. It is strictly a visualization of what is believed to have happened.

Click on image to play movie