Key insights

• ⚙️ Purdue University and American Society of Civil Engineers collaboration
• 🔬 Science-based simulation showing impact of American Airlines 767 on North Tower
• 🏢 Modeling the first impact to demonstrate penetration from the inside out
• 📊 Use of original construction data for accuracy
• 📐 Engineers used blueprints, photographs, and construction data for wireframe creation
• 🛩️ Scaled 767 jetliner with 10,000 gallons of fuel for impact simulation
• 🎥 Thermal camera captured jetliner impact and fluid behavior
• 💻 Raw data combined with computer rendering for final simulation
• 🕒 Two years to complete the project
• 📏 Detailed simulation confirming model accuracy
• 💥 Internal destruction of supporting columns and fuel atomization depicted
• 🔥 Discussion on impact of heat on unprotected columns and beams
• 🔥 Widespread fires initiated by jet fuel weakening steel columns
• 🏗️ Softening of steel making restraints less effective
• 📑 Purdue's findings confirming NIST report

Q&A

• How did the widespread fires initiated by jet fuel affect the steel columns?

  The widespread fires weakened the steel columns, and the softening of the steel from the heat made the restraints on the columns less effective, ultimately bringing down the towers. Purdue's findings confirmed the NIST report.

• What aspects of the structure's elements did the project discuss regarding the impact of heat?

  The project discussed the impact of heat on unprotected columns and beams in a structure, emphasizing the role of fuel, oxygen, and temperature. It highlighted the influence of fuel and oxygen on fire intensity and the increasing temperature on the structure.

• What did the detailed simulation confirm about the impact of the plane?

  The detailed simulation confirmed the accuracy of the model, depicting the impact, internal destruction, fuel atomization, and fire effects on the building's steel network from different angles.

• What technologies were used to capture the impact and fluid behavior of the jetliner crashing into the building?

  A thermal camera was used to capture the impact and fluid behavior of the jetliner crashing into the building. The project also combined raw data and computer rendering over two years to create the final science-based simulation.

• How did Purdue University and ASCE model the impact of the airplane on the North Tower?

  Engineers at Purdue used blueprints, photographs, and construction data to create a wireframe of the World Trade Center structure. They also created a scaled 767 jetliner and launched fluid-filled aluminum cans to simulate an airplane wing impacting a steel column. The jetliner model included 10,000 gallons of fuel to model the impact of the fuel load upon collision.

• What did the collaboration between Purdue University and the American Society of Civil Engineers involve?

  The collaboration involved creating a science-based simulation to depict the impact of an American Airlines 767 on the North Tower of the World Trade Center using original construction data.

• 00:02 Purdue University and American Society of Civil Engineers collaborated to create a science-based simulation depicting the impact of American Airlines 767 on the North Tower of the World Trade Center complex. Purdue modeled the first impact to show the penetration of the tower from the inside out, using original construction data.
• 00:43 Engineers at Purdue used blueprints, photographs, and construction data to create a wireframe of the World Trade Center structure, including a scaled 767 jetliner with 10,000 gallons of fuel. They launched fluid-filled aluminum cans to simulate an airplane wing impacting a steel column.
• 01:23 A thermal camera captured the impact and fluid behavior of a jetliner crashing into a building. It took two years to complete the project, combining raw data and computer rendering to create the final impressive science-based simulation.
• 02:44 A detailed simulation confirmed the accuracy of the model, depicting the impact, internal destruction, fuel atomization, and fire effects on the building's steel network.
• 03:39 Discussing the impact of heat on unprotected columns and beams in a structure, emphasizing the role of fuel, oxygen, and temperature.
• 04:15 Widespread fires initiated by jet fuel weakened the steel columns and brought down the towers. The softening of the steel from the heat made the restraints on the columns less effective.