Friday Open Thread > low-impact skyscraper demolition.

low-impact skyscraper demolition.

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Unlike conventional demolition that begins at the top of the building, Kajima’s new method starts on the bottom floor, where the support columns are cut and replaced with giant computer-controlled jacks. Once the floor is demolished and the debris removed, the entire building is lowered and work begins on the next floor. The process is repeated for each floor until the entire building is gone.

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reply to fatness

quote:

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the support columns are cut and replaced with giant computer-controlled jacks.

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reply to fatness
...and then the earthquake happens...

reply to fatness
That is a very cool idea.... but.... the potential for error or mistake could make a small mistake become a very serious one very quickly.

You know, it occurs to me that if one plans ahead with building design, and built columns designed to attach to jacks, you would essentially create a building that could be raised (or lowered) at will. IE you could "add" floors if you needed more room at the bottom levels and not require structural reinforcements in the already usable spaces.

And when demolition time came around, you could use the same columns to take the building apart.
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"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!)

When I first saw the video, before I did any reading, I thought that the jacks were somehow built-in as you described.