The Conservative Cave
Current Events => The DUmpster => The DUmping Ground => Topic started by: LC EFA on February 11, 2009, 05:23:58 AM
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Some DU history : This is the thread that started off the references to chicken wire models and highlights the utter insanity of the 9/11 "Truther" Movement.
The version on DU is picture rich, and quite long with some very "spirited" discussion.
spooked911 (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-05-05 06:31 PM
Original message
Can a jet fuel/hydrocarbon fire collapse a steel structure? An experiment.
Edited on Wed Oct-05-05 07:29 PM by spooked911
I set up the following experiment using steel rabbit fencing as the steel structure supporting a heavy cement block.
Note, this fencing is easily bendable, has no significant rigidity, and was not reinforced in any way. The fencing was bent into an outer square and an inner rectangle (the core):
Then I damaged the "columns" by cutting them with wire cutters:
Just inside where the gash was made in the outer wall, I placed a cup of kerosene (jet fuel), and there was newspaper around the bottom on the structure.
Then I put a heavy cement block on top, weighing about 15 pounds. I don't think the wire structure would hold more than three of these blocks, so the "safety factor" was not particularly high.
Then I tipped over the cup and lit the kerosene:
Then fire burned for about twenty minutes, and toward the end, I put my foot on the structure to see if it would extra weight. It still did:
The structure held up fine after the fire died:
After the fire was hot, the "columns" were not hot at all:
In a second experiment, I used the same wire fence and block set up, but increased the amount of "airplane damage", added in newspaper all around the inside of the structure, and soaked everything thoroughly with kerosene. In this expt, the fire was more intense and lasted significantly longer, but... the structure held up just fine. (Sorry no pictures of this one).
What I conclude is that a fairly flimsy steel structure does not distort and bend and collapse very easily from a simple hydrocarbon fire. And thus, it is not clear why the much stronger steel columns in the WTC towers weakened so much from fires that the towers underwent global collapse.
If kerosene/jet fuel/hydrocarbon fires can indeed cause steel structures to collapse, it should be quite simple to show this in an experiment-- right?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=125&topic_id=56836&mesg_id=56836
The inevitable death 317 posts later.
Lithos Lead Moderator Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Jul-16-06 10:32 PM
Response to Original message
317. Locking
This thread has become more personal than a discussion of it's content. It is probably best to relegate this to the archives for citation.
Lithos
DU Moderator
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I remember seeing this when it was first posted, pics and all. :fuelfire:
They don't call them DUmmies for nothing.... :mental:
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pics stll on DU:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b108/janedoe444/spooked/4_fire.jpg)
nummy nummy nummy
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(http://www.wxyz.com/media/news/7/5/2/7521579c-7dbd-4fcc-aba0-bc626c8d3a02/Original.jpg)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2293579/posts
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That was truly a Great Moment in DUmmie History. :rotf:
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It is probably best to relegate this to the archives for citation.
And we're going to keep citing it as evidence that the 9/11Troofers are batshit crazy. :mental:
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As I recall, PJ had one of the pics featured on DUmmie FUnnies when he paid tribute to that monumentally-stupid thread on his site.
:-)
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I am replying so I can find this thread next time I want a giggle. :cheersmate:
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pics stll on DU:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b108/janedoe444/spooked/4_fire.jpg)
nummy nummy nummy
You gotta admit. These DUmmies are good for a laugh. Is he serious?!? :loser:
lol :lmao: :rotf:
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You gotta admit. These DUmmies are good for a laugh. Is he serious?!? :loser:
lol :lmao: :rotf:
If spooky isn't a mole- then yes indeed they're very serious.