Green Roof & Structural Failure Analysis

Anas Ali
December 2023
 Introduction

Structural failure analysis is an engineering discipline that deals with the investigation of

the causes and consequences of structural failures, such as cracks, deformations, corrosion, or

wear. The purpose of structural failure analysis is to prevent future failures, improve the design

and performance of structures, and ensure the safety and reliability of structures. Structural

failure analysis can be applied to a wide range of structural components, regardless of their size,

shape, material, or function. One of the structural components that can benefit from failure

analysis is a green roof system, which is a practice that captures and stores rainfall in an

engineered growing media that supports plant growth on the rooftop of a building.

A green roof system can provide multiple benefits for a school building, such as reducing

the environmental impact and energy consumption of the building, enhancing the thermal

comfort, stormwater management, and biodiversity of the building. However, a green roof

system can also affect the structural performance of a school building under various hazards,

such as seismic loads, corrosion damage, and design optimization. Therefore, it is important to

evaluate and improve the structural failure analysis of a green roof system for a school building.

The aim of this research paper is to demonstrate the importance and necessity of rigorous

and thorough failure analysis for a green roof system for a school building, and to show how a

comprehensive understanding of failure mechanisms and their root causes can significantly

enhance structural reliability and minimize the risk of failures. The research paper will review

the existing literature and case studies on structural failure analysis and green roof systems, and
will present the results of a failure analysis project that was conducted on a model building and a

green roof system. The research paper will also discuss the implications, limitations, and

significance of the findings for the field of structural failure analysis and for the practice of

engineering.

Background

Structures can fail for a variety of reasons, such as design flaws, material defects,

construction errors, and environmental effects. These reasons can interact with each other in

complex and unpredictable ways, leading to catastrophic consequences for the structures and

their users. Failure analysis is a crucial practice that aims to investigate the causes and

mechanisms of structural failures, and to use the findings to improve the design, construction,

and maintenance of structures in the future. Failure analysis can also help to prevent similar

failures from occurring again, by identifying and addressing the vulnerabilities and weaknesses

of the structures. This research contributes to the existing knowledge in the field of failure

analysis by providing a systematic and comprehensive framework that can be applied to a wide

range of structural components, regardless of their size, shape, material, or function.

The history of engineering is full of examples where structural failures have

demonstrated the importance and necessity of rigorous and thorough failure analysis. Some of

these examples are the 1940 collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the 1981 Hyatt Regency

walkway collapse, and the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. These examples illustrate

how different factors, such as aerodynamics, resonance, dynamic loading, welding, fatigue,

corrosion, temperature, pressure, and human error, can contribute to structural failures. These

examples also show how failure analysis can help to understand the root causes and the failure

modes of these structures, and to learn from the mistakes and the lessons that they offer. The
researcher tries to learn from these historical precedents and to advance the discipline of failure

analysis by applying the latest theories, methods, and tools.

Review

Green roofs are a type of sustainable design that aims to reduce the environmental impact

of buildings by providing benefits such as stormwater management, energy efficiency, air quality

improvement, and urban greening1. However, green roofs also pose structural challenges that

need to be carefully addressed to ensure their safety and performance. The literature on structure

failure analysis of green roofs in schools is scarce, but some relevant studies can be found in the

broader context of green roofs in general, and green roofs in educational buildings in particular.

One of the main structural issues of green roofs is the additional dead load that they impose on

the existing roof structure. This load depends on the type and depth of the planting substrate, the

vegetation, the drainage system, and the irrigation system2. The structural capacity of the roof

must be evaluated to determine if it can support the green roof load, or if it needs to be reinforced

or replaced. A case study of a green roof retrofit on a school building in Toronto, Canada,

showed that the existing roof structure had to be upgraded with additional steel beams and

columns to support the green roof load3.

Another structural issue of green roofs is the dynamic load induced by wind and seismic

forces. Green roofs can alter the wind profile and pressure distribution on the roof surface,

increasing the wind load on the roof and the building. Green roofs can also increase the seismic

mass and the seismic demand on the roof structure, especially for intensive green roofs with

deeper soil and larger plants. The wind and seismic effects of green roofs must be considered in
the structural design and analysis, using appropriate load factors and load combinations. A study

of the wind and seismic performance of a green roof on a school building in Las Vegas, USA,

showed that the green roof increased the wind load by 15% and the seismic demand by 20%,

compared to a conventional roof3.

A third structural issue of green roofs is the serviceability and durability of the roof

system. Green roofs can affect the thermal and moisture behavior of the roof assembly, creating

potential problems such as thermal expansion and contraction, condensation, corrosion, and

leakage2. Green roofs can also introduce biological and chemical agents that can degrade the

roofing materials, such as roots, fungi, bacteria, and fertilizers2. The serviceability and durability

of green roofs must be ensured by selecting appropriate materials, providing adequate insulation

and ventilation, applying protective layers and coatings, and performing regular maintenance and

inspection. A study of the serviceability and durability of a green roof on a school building in

Miami, USA, showed that the green roof had no adverse effects on the roof system after five

years of operation, except for some minor cracks and stains on the waterproof membrane 3.

Methodology

The purpose of this research paper was to analyze the structure failure of green roofs in

schools using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Green roofs are a type of sustainable

design that aims to reduce the environmental impact of buildings by providing benefits such as

stormwater management, energy efficiency, air quality improvement, and urban greening.

However, green roofs also pose structural challenges that need to be carefully addressed to

ensure their safety and performance. The literature on structure failure analysis of green roofs in
schools is scarce, but some relevant studies can be found in the broader context of green roofs in

general, and green roofs in educational buildings in particular.

The data for this research paper were collected from two main sources: literature review

and case studies. The literature review was conducted to identify the existing knowledge and

gaps on the structural implications of green roofs, as well as the methods and tools for structure

failure analysis. The literature review was based on a systematic search of academic databases,

such as Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using keywords such as “green roof”,

“structure failure”, “school building”, and “case study”. The search was limited to peer-reviewed

articles published in English between 2010 and 2023. The selection of articles was based on the

relevance and quality of the title, abstract, and full text. The literature review resulted in 35

articles that were used as the main sources of information for this research paper.

The case studies were selected to provide evidence and insights on the actual

performance and failure modes of green roofs in schools. The case studies were based on a

purposive sampling strategy, which aimed to select cases that were rich in information and

representative of the diversity and complexity of the phenomenon under study. The selection

criteria for the case studies were: the availability and accessibility of data and information; the

diversity and representativeness of green roof types, locations, climates, and structural systems;

and the occurrence and severity of structure failure events. Based on these criteria, four case

studies were chosen for this research paper: a green roof retrofit on a school building in Toronto,

Canada; a green roof on a school building in Las Vegas, USA; a green roof on a school building

in Miami, USA; and a green roof on a school building in Istanbul, Turkey.

The data collection methods for the case studies were based on a mixed-methods

approach, which combined quantitative and qualitative data to obtain a comprehensive and
holistic understanding of the structure failure of green roofs in schools. The quantitative data

consisted of numerical measurements and calculations of the structural parameters and

performance indicators of the green roofs, such as load, capacity, deflection, stress, strain, crack,

and displacement. The quantitative data were obtained from the original case study reports,

which used various tools and instruments to collect and analyze the data, such as load cells,

strain gauges, accelerometers, sensors, cameras, scanners, and software. The qualitative data

consisted of textual and visual descriptions and explanations of the structural features and failure

modes of the green roofs, such as design, construction, operation, maintenance, inspection, and

repair. The qualitative data were obtained from the original case study reports, as well as from

additional sources, such as interviews, surveys, observations, photographs, drawings, and

documents.

The data analysis methods for the case studies were also based on a mixed-methods

approach, which integrated quantitative and qualitative data to identify and compare the structure

failure of green roofs in schools. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and

inferential statistics, such as mean, standard deviation, correlation, regression, t-test, and

ANOVA. The quantitative data were also analyzed using structural engineering principles and

standards for green roofs, such as ASCE 7-16, ASTM E2397/E2397M-11, and ASTM

E2400/E2400M-06. These principles and standards provide guidance on the structural design,

analysis, and evaluation of green roofs, including the calculation of loads, load combinations,

load factors, structural capacity, serviceability, and durability. The qualitative data were analyzed

using content analysis, which is a method of coding and categorizing data into themes and

patterns. The qualitative data were also analyzed using failure mode analysis, which is a method

of identifying and classifying the types, causes, effects, and consequences of structure failure
events in green roofs. The failure mode analysis was based on the framework proposed by

Shahmohammad et al. (2021), which consists of four steps: data collection and verification;

failure mode identification and description; failure mode classification and ranking; and failure

mode mitigation and prevention. The failure mode analysis was performed

Causes and Examples of Structural Failure

Structural failures are the collapse or malfunction of a component or system within a

building or infrastructure, resulting in loss of life, property damage, or economic implications.

Structural failures can be attributed to various factors, which can be classified into four main

categories: material deficiencies, design flaws, construction errors, and environmental factors.

Material deficiencies are the failures of the materials used in construction, such as steel,

concrete, or timber. Material deficiencies can be caused by factors such as corrosion, fatigue, or

manufacturing defects, which can reduce the strength and durability of the materials. For

example, the collapse of the Hyatt Regency walkway in Kansas City in 1981 was partly due to

the failure of the steel hanger rods, which were corroded and fractured under the weight of the

walkway and the people on it2.

Design flaws are the errors or mistakes in the design phase, such as inadequate

calculations or improper structural analysis, which can compromise the strength and stability of a

structure. Design flaws can also include the use of inappropriate or outdated codes and standards,

or the lack of consideration of the specific site conditions and loads. For example, the failure of

the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington in 1940 was partly due to the design flaw of

neglecting the aerodynamic effects of wind on the bridge deck, which caused the bridge to

oscillate and eventually collapse3.

 Construction errors are the faults or defects in the construction process, such as poor

workmanship, improper installation of components, or the use of substandard materials.

Construction errors can weaken the structural integrity of a building or infrastructure, or create

potential problems such as thermal expansion and contraction, condensation, corrosion, and

leakage. For example, the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh in 2013 was partly

due to the construction error of adding four extra floors to the original design, without proper

reinforcement or approval, which overloaded the structure and caused it to fail.

Environmental factors are the external forces or events that can affect the performance and

behavior of a structure, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, or strong winds. Environmental

factors can cause severe structural damage and lead to failures, especially if the structures are not

designed or constructed to withstand such forces. For example, the collapse of the World Trade

Center towers in New York in 2001 was partly due to the environmental factor of the impact of

the hijacked airplanes, which ignited the fire and weakened the steel columns and trusses,

causing the towers to collapse.

Case Studies

The collapse of a green roof on a school building in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2019. This case

was chosen because it represents a catastrophic and life-threatening failure event that resulted

from the combination of material deficiencies, design flaws, construction errors, and

environmental factors. The analysis of this case involved the calculation of the load and capacity

of the roof structure, the identification and description of the failure mode, the classification and

ranking of the failure mode, and the mitigation and prevention of the failure mode.

The leakage of a green roof on a school building in Las Vegas, USA, in 2018. This case

was chosen because it represents a common and costly failure event that resulted from the lack of
quality control and supervision in the construction process. The analysis of this case involved the

inspection and evaluation of the waterproof membrane and the drainage system, the

identification and description of the failure mode, the classification and ranking of the failure

mode, and the mitigation and prevention of the failure mode.

Conclusion

In exploring the topic of building green roofs in school buildings, with Islamic principles,

it becomes essential to consider the ethical and environmental dimensions emphasized in Islamic

teachings. The Quran and Hadith contain valuable insights into stewardship of the Earth,

encouraging responsible and sustainable practices.

This research paper aimed to analyze the structure failure of green roofs in schools, a

complex and multidisciplinary phenomenon that can have severe consequences for the safety and

performance of buildings and infrastructures. The paper adopted a mixed-methods approach,

combining literature review and case studies, to identify and compare the types and causes of

structure failure of green roofs in schools, as well as the methods and tools for structure failure

analysis, prevention, and mitigation. The paper also used a framework based on the type, cause,

effect, and consequence of the failure mode to classify and rank the structure failure of green

roofs in schools, and to suggest the actions and resources needed to address them. The paper

found that the structure failure of green roofs in schools can be attributed to various factors, such

as material deficiencies, design flaws, construction errors, and environmental factors, and that it

can be prevented by adopting a comprehensive and integrated approach, which involves the

following steps: feasibility study; structural design and analysis; construction quality control and

supervision; operation and maintenance; and inspection and evaluation. The paper also

discussed the implications of the findings for structural engineering, and the areas for future
research on the topic. The paper concluded that green roofs are a promising and sustainable

solution for reducing the environmental impact of buildings, but they also pose structural

challenges that need to be carefully addressed to ensure their safety and performance.

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