How 9/11 changed building design

A lot of changes across several industries have been made after the events of 9/11. One of the most obvious changes felt by the country as well as other nations is the stricter policies of airline travel as well as airport security. Some changes were made that people don’t know are attributed to the tragedy, such as new building designs. According to civil construction expert Reddy Kancharla, after the events of 9/11, the construction world had to adjust as well.

An example of construction changes made post-9/11 is the requirement for structural supports such as pillars and beams to have high ductility properties. Ductility refers to a structure’s ability to remain firm even when they are stressed. This makes buildings capable of withstanding high-magnitude earthquakes, the likes that occur once every 2,000 years.

Another change made after the incident was the introduction of stronger concrete. The steel columns that supported the World Trade Center rapidly lost their strength due to the fires that reached over 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Regular concrete can withstand up to 6,000 pounds of compression while the concrete used in the World Trade Center had a compression strength of 12,000 pounds. Today, concrete strength has been increased to reach up to 30,000 pounds per square inch by using more densely packed particles.

Concrete reinforcement also went through several changes after the ordeal. Research has shown that a mix of concrete and steel makes for a very ductile product. Today, ultra-high performance reinforced concrete is the standard. According to Reddy Kancharla, this type of concrete reinforcement can withstand extreme blasts.

Reddy Kancharla is equipped with a comprehensive knowledge on engineering theories, principles, and practical solutions of engineering problems in civil engineering and the construction industry. For more insightful reads on construction and engineering, visit this page .