Ep 10. Catastrophic Collapse

In Disasters Engineered season 1 episode 10, titled Catastrophic Collapse, viewers are taken on a journey into the world of engineering failures. The episode focuses on some of the most catastrophic collapses in history, analyzing the causes and consequences of each disaster.

The show begins by discussing the collapse of the Québec Bridge, which occurred in 1907. The bridge, intended to connect Québec City with the South Shore of the St. Lawrence River, collapsed during construction, killing 86 workers. Using a combination of archival footage and expert interviews, Disasters Engineered explains the root cause of the collapse - a flaw in the design of the bridge's cantilever arm.

Moving forward in time, the episode then highlights the Hyatt Regency hotel collapse, which took place in Kansas City in 1981. The guests of the hotel had gathered in the atrium for a dance party when two elevated walkways collapsed, killing 114 people and injuring over 200. Disasters Engineered delves into the process of the hotel's construction, revealing that a last-minute design change was made to the walkway support system, compromising the structure's integrity.

Next, the episode investigates the sinking of the Titanic. Although widely considered one of the greatest maritime disasters in history, Disasters Engineered postulates that the sinking was, in fact, the result of a design flaw in the ship's infrastructure. According to the show, the Titanic's watertight compartments were not designed to withstand the simultaneous flooding of more than one compartment.

The show then turns its attention to the Tay Bridge disaster, which occurred in 1879. The bridge, located in Scotland, collapsed during a storm, killing all 75 passengers and crew on board the train that was crossing it at the time. Disasters Engineered looks into the design of the bridge and uncovers a series of poor design choices that led to its ultimate collapse.

The episode ultimately concludes with the collapse of the Silver Bridge, which connected Point Pleasant, West Virginia, with Gallipolis, Ohio. The bridge fell into the Ohio River in 1967, killing 46 people. Using video footage and expert analysis, Disasters Engineered explores the bridge's design and proposes that the cause of the collapse was a cracked eyebar, which failed due to corrosion.

Catastrophic Collapse offers a thought-provoking look into the world of engineering failures, combining expert analysis with captivating historical footage to explore the true cause behind some of the greatest disasters in history. The show takes viewers on a journey through time, offering a glimpse into the past while shedding light on the importance of safety in engineering and design.