ABSTRACT PREFACE «++ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . eG TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . 1.1 Background . 12 osHA Investigation” 113 organization of the Report CONDUCT OF THE INVESTIGATION ... 2.1 Structural Observations 212 Crane Information .. 2.3 Laboratory Tests ... 2.4 Analytical Studies . DESCRIPTION OF THE CRANE AND THE CLIMBING OPERATION 3.1 Description of the Structure . 3:2 Slewing Brakes... 3:3 Climbing operation 3.4 Climbing Section Rollers . DESCRIPTION OF THE FAILURE . 4.1 Background .... eee 4.2 Eyewitness Accounts of the Failure 4.3 Observations of Collapsed structure 4.3.1 Overall Collapse ... 2 ower structure ...1 3 Tower Section 16 4 Climbing Section 5 Climbing Section Roliers 6 ower Section 15 7 8 8 1 a x Climbing Traverse .. Boom... Turntable Page iiiLABORATORY TESTS 5.1 Introduction ........+ 5.2 Material Properties .. 3.3 Analysis of Fracture Surfaces . 5.4 Slewing Brakes .... STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS ... 6.1 Introduction ..... 6.2 Computer Nodel and Analysis 6.3 Results of the Analysis . ANALYSIS OF COLLAPSE . 7.1 Introduction ..... 7.2 Summary of Significant Data 7:3 Failure Scenario +....++. CONCLUSIONS ..... REFERENCES .. APPENDIX A - CLIMBING PROCEDURE ......+++ APPENDIX B - CALCULATION OF STRUCTURAL MEMBER PROPERTIES AND LIMIT STATE VALUES... Page 139 139 139 a1 142 149 149 149 182 179 179 179 186 191 193 195 2021. INTRODUCTION 11 Background On November 28, 1989, shortly after 8:00 a.m., a tower crane collapsed in the center of the financial district in San Francisco, Callrornia. ‘Four construction workers engaged in the climbing operation of the crane and one person on the street below the crane were killed. Given the time of day and the location in a busy urban setting, the catastrophic potential of this accident was significant. The tower crane was being raised or "climbed" at the time of the collapse. Climbing involves raising the superstructure or operating portion of the crane, i.e., the turntable, operator's cab, machinery and boom and ‘installing additional supporting elenents or tower sections to raise the working height of the crane to the desired elevation as the building construction progresses. Special procedures, as outlined by the manufacturer of the crane, are followed during this clinbing operation to control the behavior of the portion of the crane being raised and maintain the structural integrity of the supporting structure. A sketch of the tower crane is shown in figure 1.1.2. The figure illustrates the configuration of the crane at the time of the collapse. Figure 1.1.2 illustrates the various operating elements. Figure 1.1.3 is a photograph taken during the climbing operation ‘three weeks prior to the collapse, the last time the crane was raised. The crane was designed and manufactured by Peiner Maschinen und Schraubenwerke for the American Pecco Corporation headquartered in Millwood, New York. The crane is a climbing, luffing boom, tower crane. The tower was tied to the building under construction at two locations for lateral support as shown in figure 1.1.1. Representatives from the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Department of Industrial Relations of the State of California (Cal0SHA) and from the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), were on the scene within approximately one hour of the accident. ‘The State of California has its own occupational safety and health program. €al0SHA, therefore, was responsible for investigating the accident. Evidence in the form of photographs and a videotape of the accident scene collected by OSHA regional office staff, on Novenber 28, 1989, was turned over to Cal0SHA immediately following cleanup of the accident site. In early January 1990, CalOSHA requested OSHA provide assistance in their investigation of the accident. The purpose of this assistance was to provide technical support in determining the cause of the accident. ]S Zz