NCST Investigation of the Champlain Towers

South Collapse

Investigation Overview and Update

Judith Mitrani-Reiser Glenn R. Bell

Lead Investigator Associate Lead Investigator
Champlain Towers South Investigation (CTS):
Recent Activities

2023 JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2023

Champlain Towers South Investigation (CTS):
June Activities

NCST Public Meeting

Invasive Testing Program
Collapse Anniversary

2023 JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2023

 CTS Investigation: June 2023 Advisory Committee Meeting

Theme 1: Theme 2: Theme 3:

Evidence Collection, Materials, Geotechnical, Failure Hypotheses
Measurements, and and Structural Development
Visualization Analysis and Testing and Evaluation

Sissy Nikolaou, Christopher Glenn Bell, Ken Hover, Scott David Goodwin, Kamel Saidi,
Segura, Jonathan Weigand, Emel Jones, Youssef Hashash, Judith Mitrani-Reiser,
Ganapati, Georgette Hlepas Fahim Sadek Jack Moehle, James Harris

Source: NIST
 CTS Investigation: June 2023 Advisory Committee Meeting

Theme 1: Theme 2: Theme 3:

Evidence Collection, Materials, Geotechnical, Failure Hypotheses
Measurements, and and Structural Development
Visualization Analysis and Testing and Evaluation

Sissy Nikolaou, Christopher Glenn Bell, Ken Hover, Scott David Goodwin, Kamel Saidi,
Segura, Jonathan Weigand, Emel Jones, Youssef Hashash, Judith Mitrani-Reiser,
Ganapati, Georgette Hlepas Fahim Sadek Jack Moehle, James Harris

Source: NIST
CTS Investigation: June 2023 Advisory Committee Meeting

(a) (b)
Theme 1:
Evidence Collection,
Measurements, and
Visualization

Source: NIST

(c) Source: NIST

(e) Source: NIST

Source: NIST

Source: NIST

(d)

Source: NIST
Source: NIST
 CTS Investigation: June 2023 Advisory Committee Meeting

Theme 1: Theme 2: Theme 3:

Evidence Collection, Materials, Geotechnical, Failure Hypotheses
Measurements, and and Structural Development
Visualization Analysis and Testing and Evaluation

Sissy Nikolaou, Christopher Glenn Bell, Ken Hover, Scott David Goodwin, Kamel Saidi,
Segura, Jonathan Weigand, Emel Jones, Youssef Hashash, Judith Mitrani-Reiser,
Ganapati, Georgette Hlepas Fahim Sadek Jack Moehle, James Harris

Source: NIST
CTS Investigation: June 2023 Advisory Committee Meeting
D I K L M N O O.1
Source:
(a) Figure Legend

Location of Understrength
NIST (b) Proposed Batch Weights (Pending lab data and discussion) Source:
1” coarse aggregate fixed
NIST
Theme 2:
Degree of slab-column
connections
slab flexure
Building Tower 2000 Water fixed for 4” slump to match CTS specimens

1860
1860
1860
Understrength
and 1” coarse aggregate in size and volume fraction
severe 9.1
1800

Materials, Geotechnical,
moderate Total sand volume
1600 balances cement volume
12.1 11.1 1400
Cement
increases for

Batch Weight (lb/CY)

and Structural

1140
1200 lower w/c at Sand blend ratio mixed @ 60/40 for

1060
fixed water fineness (FM = 2.6) and CaCO3/SiO2 ratio

940
13.1 1000

Analysis and Testing

14

735
800

684
636
588

564
600

490

456
424
376
14.1 15 400

294
294
294
200

0
Water Cement Coarse (SSD) Blended Sand Fine Crusher Fine River Sand
(SSD) Screenings (SSD) (SSD)
Target 3% total air w/c = 0.40 w/c = 0.50 w/c = 0.60
Pool Deck Slab Site Perimeter
D.1 G.1 Locations Where Design Strength of Slab-Column Estimated strength range 3000 to 6000 psi
F.1 Connections and Slab Flexure Do Not Meet Original Code
(DCR > 1.0)
PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS RESULTS

(c) (d)
Source: NIST Source:
NIST
Quartz
D I K L M N
Source: NIST Source: NIST 9.1
Source: NIST
11.1
Smallest deflection
(e) (f) Largest deflection 13.1

15

Source: NIST Source: NIST Source: NIST

 CTS Investigation: June 2023 Advisory Committee Meeting

Theme 1: Theme 2: Theme 3:

Evidence Collection, Materials, Geotechnical, Failure Hypotheses
Measurements, and and Structural Development
Visualization Analysis and Testing and Evaluation

Sissy Nikolaou, Christopher Glenn Bell, Ken Hover, Scott David Goodwin, Kamel Saidi,
Segura, Jonathan Weigand, Emel Jones, Youssef Hashash, Judith Mitrani-Reiser,
Ganapati, Georgette Hlepas Fahim Sadek Jack Moehle, James Harris

Source: NIST
CTS Investigation: June 2023 Advisory Committee Meeting

Theme 3: (a) (b) (Copyright 2021) M. Santana. Used with permission.

Failure Hypotheses Input

Development 2
and Evaluation Data

Evidence Needed for Analysis Failure Hypotheses, Causes

of Failure Hypotheses, Causes and Contributors, Analyses
& Contributors and Tests

(c) Site CTS Design & CTS Building Champlain Towers South Collapse
History Construction History
Weeks/Days Hours/Minutes Initiation &
1900-1979 1979-1981 1981-2021 Prior to Collapse Prior to Collapse Progression

Source: NIST
(d) (a) Pool/ (c) Extra- (e)
Initiation drive/park (b) Tower ordinary
deck loading

Slab-
column … …
punching
A K L M N O.1

Connection Patio
Deck
Tower
Progression or column 8

@ 9.1 9.1

11.1

13.1

Pool Deck
Tower 15

Drive/Park Deck
SPW

Source: NIST
 CTS Investigation: Invasive Extraction and Testing

Source: NIST

Source: NIST Source: NIST

Source: NIST

Source: NIST
Two Year Anniversary of CTS Collapse: June 24, 2023

Source: NIST
Champlain Towers South Investigation: July Activities

NCST Public Meeting

Invasive Testing Program
Collapse Anniversary

2023 JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2023

Transport Structural Test Materials

Procurement & Contracts
Invasive Testing Program Support
 CTS Investigation: Structural Test Materials

Source: NIST Source: NIST

 Champlain Towers South Investigation: Contracting

Contract Award Process Flow*

Acq. Documents Issuance of Solicit Evaluation of
Developed and Sources Sought: Award:
Competition: Offers:
Submitted:

NIST fully documents our When appropriate, Contract information Proposals are After a review by
contracting need with a
NIST will determine if is made available to evaluated by a AMD, the best
Statement of Work (SOW)
and provides supporting there are vendors the public, including technical evaluation proposal is awarded
documentation (e.g., cost available to meet the potential vendors. team to determine the contract, and the
estimate, market research, proposed need by Vendors then submit the best offer. unsuccessful offerors
etc.) to our Acquisition posting a “Sources proposals to NIST. Negotiations are held are also notified.
Management Division
(AMD). Sought Notice.” if appropriate.

*Depending upon the type of acquisition (task order under an IDIQ or a new contract) and approach, some steps may
vary. This is a high-level overview of the acquisition process followed by the CTS Investigation.
 Champlain Towers South Investigation: Contracting

Contract Award Process Flow*

Acq. Documents Issuance of Solicit Evaluation of In the past three months, NIST has awarded:
Developed and Sources Sought: Competition: Offers: Award:
Submitted:
• Three new work orders, under an existing interagency
agreement, to support the invasive testing program
and ongoing remote sensing and visualization
NIST fully documents our When appropriate, Contract information Proposals are After a review by
contracting need with a NIST will determine if is made publicly evaluated by a AMD, the best
Statement of Work (SOW)
and provides supporting
documentation (e.g., cost
there are vendors
available to meet the
available to the
public, including
technical evaluation
team to determine
proposal is awarded
the contract, and the leadership and support.
proposed need by potential vendors. the best offer. unsuccessful offerors
• One new contract to support the invasive testing
estimate, market research,
etc.) to our Acquisition posting a “Sources Vendors then submit Negotiations are held are also notified.
Management Division
Sought Notice.” proposals to NIST. if appropriate.
(AMD).
program in Miami, FL.
• One new contract to investigate mechanisms of steel
To Ensure Efficiency in the Contract Process Flow:
corrosion, test transport properties of concrete, and
• Tracking of contract status in spreadsheet shared conduct service-life predictions.
across the Team, Divisions and Laboratory. • One new contract to provide leadership and technical
• Weekly meetings between the Division leadership, expertise to the Building & Code History and
Lab contract specialists, and NIST’s Acquisition Structural Engineering projects.
Management Division. • Exercised contract options, and executed micro-
purchases to generally support the investigation.

*Depending upon the type of acquisition (task order under an IDIQ or a new contract) and approach, some steps may
vary. This is a high-level overview of the acquisition process followed by the CTS Investigation.
CTS Investigation: Invasive Testing Program Support

Source: NIST Source: NIST

Champlain Towers South Investigation: August Activities

NCST Public Meeting Invasive Work Flow & Coordination

Invasive Testing Program Rebuilding Hard Drives
Collapse Anniversary Structural Testing Updates

2023 JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2023

Transport Structural Test Materials

Procurement & Contracts
Invasive Testing Program Support
CTS Investigation: Invasive Work Flow & Coordination

Typical Invasive Deployment Cycle (6 weeks)

Additional Pre- Analyze Non- Concrete Post- Additional

Pre- Extraction Destructive Coring, Extraction Post-
Extraction Non- Testing to Reinforcing Bar Sample Extraction
Non- Destructive Optimize Sampling, and Management and Sample
Destructive Testing Coring Post-Extraction Documentation Management
Testing Locations NDT and
Documentation

(1 week) (1 week) (1 week) (2 weeks) (2 weeks) (1 week)

NIST’s Coordination with Local Authorities:

• Weekly Meetings (45 min. in length) • Detailed plans for coring/testing shared
• Weekly agendas, with priorities highlighted • Staggered deployments to increase efficiency
• 50+ meetings to date in FY23 • Coordination on specimens with limited material
 CTS Investigation: Search for Additional Footage

Source: NIST Source: NIST Credit: Forensic Strategy Services

• Conducted over 100 hours of searching

• Identified a total of 25 hard disk drives
• 14 drives identified as possibly from a DVR
• Forensic contractor may be able to recover
Source: NIST
7 drives
Source: NIST
 CTS Investigation: Structural Testing Updates

Test Specimen Details Material Properties Testing Details

Details at slab w/ Beam A Slab-column test apparatus

• Detailed measurements from • Core data used to establish target • Detailed discussions about boundary
warehouse specimens concrete strengths conditions and instrumentation
• NIST/Contractor agreement on details • U. Florida concrete batching • Test apparatus and instrumentation
• Reinforcement orders in progress • Materials and procedures transferred plans complete for slab-column
to contractors testing.
• Contractor test batching in progress • Discussions ongoing for slab-beam-
column connection at L9.1
Champlain Towers South Investigation: September Activities

NCST Public Meeting Invasive Work Flow & Coordination

Invasive Testing Program Rebuilding Hard Drives
Collapse Anniversary Structural Testing Updates

2023 JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2023

Public Engagement
Transport Structural Test Materials FY23 Progress Overview
Procurement & Contracts
Update Failure Hypotheses
Invasive Testing Program Support FY24 Program Planning
 Champlain Towers South Investigation:
Public Engagement
● Working with local partner to
meet with families regularly
● Issued one news update since
last meeting
● Released additional NCST
videos, and recordings of the
June committee meeting
● Review entries to the DFS portal
● Use multiple methods to
communicate:
Source: NIST

Video News releases

Blog Social media

Source: NIST
Champlain Towers South Investigation:
FY23 Progress Overview (by the numbers)

40+ 600+ NCST Appropriated Funds:

49% Spent in FY22
NIST EVIDENCE
Labor: $ 3.9M (37%)
EMPLOYEES SPECIMENS
Other Objects*: $ 6.8M (63%)

51% Spent/Planned in FY23

15+ 24+ Labor: $ 3.2M (28%)
LOCAL AND FAILURE Other Objects*: $ 8.1M (72%)
FEDERAL AGENCIES HYPOTHESES
NIST Disaster Supplemental:
~$ 1.0 M Spent in FY23
Labor: $ 30k (3%)
25+ 3+ TB Other Objects*: $ 981k (97%)
WORK ORDERS AND PHOTOS
CONTRACTS AWARDED AND VIDEOS *contracts, equipment, travel, misc.
 Champlain Towers South Investigation:
Update Failure Hypotheses & FY24 Program Planning

1 • Develop Project Objectives

FAILURE INITIATION
& PROGRESSION
2 • Develop FY24 Milestones & Interdependencies

CAUSES & 3 • Develop Outyear Milestones

CONTRIBUTORS

4 • Identify Staffing and Equipment Needs

• Identify Contract, Equipment, & Travel Needs

Data

6 • Implement FY24 Plans

7 • Assess at Midyear & Update FY24 Plans

8 • Develop FY25 Plans

9 • Assess FY24 Accomplishments & Update FY25 Plans

Presentation of Preliminary Data & Analysis

IMPORTANT: ALL DATA ARE PRELIMINARY

• This presentation describes preliminary data gathered to date as well

as preliminary analyses of these data. Data and analyses are subject to
change.
• Once all data are finalized and analyzed, they will inform a broader
understanding of the cause of the collapse – and NIST's findings and
recommendations.
• Preliminary data and analyses in these presentations are not to be used
to form recommendations at this time.
 CTS As-Built Conditions
Typically fewer than the specified number of The measured spacing of the top reinforcing bars
column strip top reinforcing bars are centered over in the column strips of the pool deck slab
the column in the pool deck slab. specimens commonly ranges from about 20 % to
40 % wider than required by the structural design
drawings, resulting in less reinforcing in the
column strips than required by the design.

Slab Top Reinforcement at

Example Column Location

slab top
reinforcement
spacing
2 slab top
reinforcement bars

Example Column Specimen

2 slab top At this location, only 2 rather than

reinforcement bars
4 top bars were centered over the
column in each direction.
Sources: Photographs – NIST; Drawing Excerpts from Original Structural Design Drawings
 Records Located to Date

Champlain Towers South: 87 Park:

• Resident complaints of pool deck slab’s condition • Measurements of vibration and noise
causing potential falling hazards, damage to monitoring
vehicles • Communications, daily site reports, logs of
• Construction of the beach access and related work done, photos, sheeting plans showing
condition of the south perimeter wall temporary and permanent installations,
• Condition assessments done in preparation for proposals and contracts
building’s 40-year recertification • Records related to beach access walk
• Photos of the underside of the pool deck slab, construction
garage columns, and pool foundation • Information on dewatering and site drainage

CTS Investigation Collapse Timeline

records span 2016 - 2021

Source: NIST
1. Identify Specimens for
3. Mark Planned Core Source for All Images: NIST
Subsampling
2. Crack Mapping & NDT Locations

10a. Materials and

Petrographic Laboratory
Examination and Testing

6. Subsample Check-In 5. Coring 4. Specimen Preparation

10.b Mechanical Testing

7. Core Documentation 8. Post-Extraction 9. Prepare

NDT for Testing

Evidence Forms
 NIST’s invasive extraction
program is being conducted in
coordination with investigations
by local authorities.

Phases 1 & 2A
Focus on pool deck slab & tower
column concrete for structural
modeling and the structural test
program concrete mix design

Extraction
• 127 concrete cores and similar
subsamples
• 10 reinforcing bar subsamples

Source of Photographs and Annotations to Original Architectural Design Drawings: NIST

NIST’s invasive extraction
program is being conducted in
coordination with investigations
by local authorities.

Phase 2B
• 135 additional cores
• Special focus on concrete
properties in slab-column
connections at interface
between pool deck & tower

Source for All Images: NIST

 NIST’s invasive extraction
program is being conducted in
coordination with investigations
by local authorities.

Summary of Invasive Extraction and Testing to Date

• 301 cores and other concrete subsamples extracted
• 77 cores tested for compressive strength
Average strengths for structural element type populations
exceed specified design strength*
• 8 cores tested for modulus of elasticity**
• 16 cores currently being subjected to materials-related tests**
• 10 reinforcing bar subsamples extracted and tested for tensile
properties**

* No conclusions on the impact of these results are drawn pending consideration of spatial
variability, quantification of uncertainty, consideration of any sampling biases, and continued materials
analyses.
** Results not yet available.
3D Site Information Model
 Analysis of Motion-Activated
Camera Recording

Initial event triggers

recording but does
not capture any
motion.

Second event triggers

recording. Material
from above falls
straight down.

As video progresses,
• Unit 711 video (looking north) captured movement during the material from above
collapse. falls at an angle;
• Evaluating motion in video to aid in determining initiation and features in the
progression of tower collapse. background become
distorted.
(Copyright 2021) M. Santana. Used with permission.
 Karstic Features - Sinkholes

Were there large voids in the ground underneath CTS that impacted the CTS foundations ?
Source for All Images: NIST

Subsurface Investigation of Site Specialized Laboratory Testing

Surveys of Basement Slab

Elev. (m)
deviation from mean elevation

low high

Post-collapse surveys of basement slab indicate Boreholes, cone penetration tests, and geophysical Specialized mineralogy, imaging, and
differential settlements were small or absent. testing at the CTS site completed to date, and
laboratory testing of limestone and sand
subsurface information regarding the 87 Park site samples show that soil and limestone were not
show no evidence of large karstic voids. susceptible to formation of karstic features.

Preliminary Evaluation: No evidence, to date, of large karstic voids that impacted the CTS foundations.
source: NIST source: NIST
 ⇒ Potential Differential Settlements
Were there large settlements of the CTS pile foundations that contributed to the CTS partial collapse ?
Site-Specific Pile Testing Pile Settlement Evaluation

Preliminary numerical analyses and calculations using empirical methods estimate settlements
consistent with the site-specific pile load testing.
Created by NIST using Abaqus Software

In two post-collapse load tests of piles in pool deck area,

piles performed well and demonstrated adequacy to carry Preliminary Evaluation: Estimated potential settlements under
estimated design loads. Results are in agreement with structural loading are small - on the order of 1/4 inch.
literature for regional load tests with similar Franki piles,
subsurface conditions, and load conditions. (evaluation of impact of settlements on the pool deck described in the following slide)
source: NIST
Source for All Images: NIST
 Structural Impact of Differential
Settlement
Pool/Drive/Park Deck Collapse Model
Analyses with imposed 1/4 in. differential settlement at various columns
Building Tower

Example: 1/4 inch settlement

imposed @ J.1-15, including
creep. The load at J.1-15
reduces by less than 5%
Displacement
smaller

Swimming Pool

Jacuzzi

larger
The loads at adjacent locations I-14.1 and K.1-15 increase by less than 5%.
Source: NIST using ATENA software

Preliminary Evaluation: 1/4 in. differential settlement has minimal impact on pool deck structure.
 Structural Laboratory Tests
& Collapse Modeling
Structural Laboratory Tests Collapse Modeling

• Representative materials
shipped from South Florida
• Trial batches in progress
(a) Elevation: Slab-column tests • Reinforcement and test
apparatus approvals in progress

(c) Elevation: Column splice tests

(b) Elevation: Connections Image created by NIST with LS-DYNA software
along line 9.1 All Images: NIST
 Integration of Evidence and Analyses in
Collapse Modeling
Project 1: History Project 2: Evidence
• Loads • Reinforcement detailing,
Pool/Drive/Park Deck Collapse Model • Historic detailing practices cover, and spacing
• Reinforcement detailing, • Other as-built conditions
cover, and spacing • Eyewitness accounts
Displacement
smaller

Project 3: RSVP Project 4: Mat-Sci

• Details and measurements • Concrete and steel material
from photographs and Lidar properties
larger • Degree of corrosion

Source: NIST using ATENA software Project 5: Geotechnical

• Soil-spring stiffness
• Pile-column eccentricity
effects
• Settlement effects
Next Six Months - Highlights

• Advance analysis of failure hypotheses: Initiation &

progression of partial collapse
• Prepare for recommendations & report writing

• Complete wind load history study • Support extraction at PEFs and testing of
• Finalize pre-collapse conditions materials at NIST’s and outside labs
• Analyze data from civil litigation • Analyze concrete durability and aging
• Analyze reinforcement corrosion

• Complete invasive extraction of • Geotechnical support services contract

concrete cores and rebar • SSI analysis with Structural Engineering
• Track evidence during invasive testing • Analysis of potential geotechnical
• Start Phase 2 interviews contributors to failure hypotheses

• Complete InSAR study • Conduct structural laboratory tests

• Analysis of building security hard drives • Incorporate as-built data into models
• Continue to populate data visualization • Extend collapse models
tool
Investigation Schedule
NCST Investigation of the Champlain Towers South Collapse

Investigation Overview & Update

Judith Mitrani-Reiser Glenn R. Bell

Lead Investigator Associate Lead Investigator
[email protected] [email protected]

Submit relevant information to NIST:

[email protected]
https://www.nist.gov/disaster-failure-studies/data-submission-portal