Suggestions for engineering diasters paper?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around suggestions for a research paper focused on engineering disasters. Participants share ideas for well-documented incidents that could serve as topics, while also noting specific forbidden topics that cannot be chosen.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests the Boston Molasses Disaster, various bridge collapses, or plane crashes as potential topics.
  • Another participant proposes the Tay Bridge collapse in Scotland around 1880 as a suggestion.
  • A third participant mentions the San Bruno high-pressure gas main explosion and the Chile mine disaster and rescue as timely examples.
  • Another suggestion includes the de Havilland DH106 (Comet) aircraft failures from 1952-54, highlighting the importance of fatigue life and stress concentrations in the aircraft industry.
  • A later reply expresses enthusiasm for the Comet aircraft failures suggestion, indicating a preference for that topic over the molasses disaster.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants have not reached a consensus on a single topic, as multiple suggestions are presented, and preferences vary among participants.

Contextual Notes

Participants have specified a list of forbidden topics that cannot be chosen for the paper, which may limit the scope of suggestions.

Who May Find This Useful

Students or researchers interested in engineering disasters, historical case studies, or topics for academic papers in engineering or safety studies.

JyN
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I have to write at 15 page long research paper on an engineering disaster. So far i have thought about doing the boston molasses disaster, anyone of a hundred bridge collapses, or plane crashes. Can anyone give some good suggestions for an engineering disaster? Something that is really well documented is what i need.

All of these are forbidden topics:

• Sinking of the Titanic
• Space Shuttle Challenger or Discovery
• Tacoma Narrows Suspension Bridge
• Kansas City Hyatt Regency Walkways Collapse
• Chernobyl Nuclear Accident
• 9/11 (World Trade Center)
• Love Canal
• Sampoong Shopping Centre
• Ford Pinto
• The Concorde Crash
• Quebec Bridge
• East Cleveland Gas Explosion
• Bhopal Gas Disaster
• BP Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
• Chilean Mine Collapse
 
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Tay bridge collapse - Scotland around 1880 ?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The de Havilland DH106 (Comet) aircraft failures (1952-54). This was when the aircraft industry found out the hard way that fatigue life and stress concentrations are important.
 
Great suggestion #4. I'm guna do that :D way better than a deadly wave of molasses.
 

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