Reply #237: So I Have a Couple of Questions [View All]

Now I don't know jack about engineering or controlled demos, so consider me the ultimate "lay person" when it comes to these things.

1)When the 1989 quake hit NoCal, Interstate 80 and the upper level of the Embarcadero made of concrete and steel (?) support bars collapsed or pancaked right on top of the lower level killing several people. It didn't fall over to the right or left, it fell straight down. So how is that different from this building falling straight down? BTW, I knew someone who worked for CalTran and saw a picture of the steel support rods sheared right off. And they didn't rebuild the upper level of the Embar. afterward

2)In a car or truck bomb explosion, doesn't most of the energy go up and out from the ground? So you wouldn't see a building collapse from this type of explosion correct? You would see half of the building torn away (OKLA City, African embassies) But if this source of the energy destroying the building comes from higher up in the building such as fires burning on upper floors, wouldn't the building collapse straight downward away from the energy source?

I am in no way dismissing anyone's theories, I am truly curious and I come to DU to learn.