Scrap Book - Doco - Documentation - Media Snippets: 911 WTC FALL -- scientific

The Open Civil Engineering Journal, 2008, 2, 3540 35
18741495/08 2008 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Fourteen Points of Agreement with Official Government Reports on the
World Trade Center Destruction
Steven E. Jones* ,1 , Frank M. Legge 2 , Kevin R. Ryan 3 , Anthony F. Szamboti* ,4 and James R.
Gourley 5
1 S&J Scientific Co., Provo, UT, 84604, USA
2 Logical Systems Consulting, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
3 Bloomington, IN 47401, USA
4 Blackwood, NJ 08012, USA
5 Dallas, TX 75231, USA
Abstract: Reports by FEMA and NIST lay out the official account of the destruction of the World Trade Center on
9/11/2001. In this Letter, we wish to set a foundation for productive discussion and understanding by focusing on those
areas where we find common ground with FEMA and NIST, while at the same time countering several popular myths
about the WTC collapses.
Keywords: World Trade Center, 9/11, Total collapse, Pancake theory, Momentum conservation, Residues.
INTRODUCTION
On September 11, 2001, the Twin Towers of the World
Trade Center (WTC) were hit by airplanes. Total destruction
of these highrises at near freefall speeds ensued within two
hours, and another highrise which was not hit by a plane
(WTC 7) collapsed about seven hours later at 5:20 p.m.
The US Congress laid out the charge specifically to the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to
``Determine why and how WTC 1 and WTC 2 collapsed fol
lowing the initial impacts of the aircraft and why and how
WTC 7 collapsed'' [1]. The Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) was acting with a similar motivation in
their earlier study of these tragic collapses [2]. NIST and
FEMA were not charged with finding out how fire was the
specific agent of collapse, yet both evidently took that lim
ited approach while leaving open a number of unanswered
questions. Our goal here is to set a foundation for scientific
discussion by enumerating those areas where we find agree
ment with NIST and FEMA. Understanding the mechanisms
that led to the destruction of the World Trade Center will
enable scientists and engineers to provide a safer environ
ment for people using similar buildings and benefit firefight
ers who risk their lives trying to save others.
DISCUSSION
1. WTC 7 Collapse Issue
FEMA: ``The specifics of the fires in WTC 7 and how
they caused the building to collapse remain unknown at this
time. Although the total diesel fuel on the premises con
*Address correspondence to this author at the S&J Scientific Company, 190
East 4680 North, Provo, Utah, USA; Tel: 8017355885; Fax: 801422
0553; Email: HardEvidence@gmail.com
4 Hawthorne Court, Blackwood, NJ, 08012, USA; Tel: 8562284747;
Email: tonyszamboti@comcast.net
tained massive potential energy, the best hypothesis has only
a low probability of occurrence. Further research, investiga
tion, and analyses are needed to resolve this issue'' [2].
FEMA analyzed the remarkable collapse of WTC build
ing 7, the 47story skyscraper that, even though it was not hit
by a plane, collapsed about seven hours after the second
Tower collapse. We certainly agree that FEMA's best fire
based hypothesis ``has only a low probability of occurrence.''
NIST's final report on WTC 7 has been long delayed and is
eagerly awaited [3]. Apparently it is difficult to fully explain
the complete and rapid collapse of WTC 7 with a firebased
hypothesis alone.
2. Withstanding Jet Impact
FEMA: ``The WTC towers had been designed to with
stand the accidental impact of a Boeing 707 seeking to land
at a nearby airport...'' [2]
NIST: ``Both WTC 1 and WTC 2 were stable after the
aircraft impact, standing for 102 min and 56 min, respec
tively. The global analyses with structural impact damage
showed that both towers had considerable reserve capacity''
[4].
Yes, we agree, as do previously published reports: ``The
110story towers of the World Trade Center were designed
to withstand as a whole the forces caused by a horizontal
impact of a large commercial aircraft. So why did a total
collapse occur?'' [5]
John Skilling, a leading structural engineer for the WTC
Towers, was interviewed in 1993 just after a bomb in a truck
went off in the North Tower:
"We looked at every possible thing we could think
of that could happen to the buildings, even to the
extent of an airplane hitting the side," said John
Skilling, head structural engineer....

36 The Open Civil Engineering Journal, 2008, Volume 2 Jones et al.
Concerned because of a case where an airplane hit
the Empire State Building [which did not col
lapse], Skilling's people did an analysis that
showed the towers would withstand the impact of
a Boeing 707.
"Our analysis indicated the biggest problem would
be the fact that all the fuel (from the airplane)
would dump into the building. There would be a
horrendous fire. A lot of people would be killed,"
he said. "The building structure would still be
there."
Skilling a recognized expert in tall buildings
doesn't think a single 200pound car bomb would
topple or do major structural damage to a Trade
Center tower. The supporting columns are closely
spaced and even if several were disabled, the oth
ers would carry the load.
...Although Skilling is not an explosives expert,
he says there are people who do know enough
about building demolition to bring a structure like
the Trade Center down.
"I would imagine that if you took the top expert in
that type of work and gave him the assignment of
bringing these buildings down with explosives, I
would bet that he could do it." [6]
Thus, Skilling's team showed that a commercial jet
would not bring down a WTC Tower, just as the Empire
State Building did not collapse when hit by an airplane, and
he explained that a demolition expert using explosives could
demolish the buildings. We find we are in agreement.
3. Pancake Theory Not Supported
NIST: ``NIST's findings do not support the ``pancake
theory'' of collapse, which is premised on a progressive fail
ure of the floor systems in the WTC towers... Thus, the
floors did not fail progressively to cause a pancaking phe
nomenon'' [3].
Agreed: the ``pancake theory of collapse'' is incorrect and
should be rejected. This theory of collapse was proposed by
the earlier FEMA report and promoted in the documentary
``Why the Towers Fell'' produced by NOVA [7]. The ``pan
cake theory of collapse'' is strongly promoted in a Popular
Mechanics article along with a number of other discredited
ideas [8, 9]. We, on the other hand, agree with NIST that the
``pancake theory'' is not scientifically tenable and ought to be
set aside in serious discussions regarding the destruction of
the WTC Towers and WTC 7.
4. Massive Core Columns
NIST: ``As stated above, the core columns were designed
to support approximately 50% of the gravity loads'' [4]. ``The
hattruss tied the core to the perimeter walls of the towers,
and thus allowed the building to withstand the effects of the
aircraft impact and subsequent fires for a much longer
time---enabling large numbers of building occupants to
evacuate safely'' [10].
``Pacific Car and Foundry of Seattle, Washington, fabri
cated the closely spaced exterior wall column panels that
gave the buildings their instantly recognizable shape. Stanray
Pacific of Los Angeles, Cal, fabricated the enormous box
and wideflange columns that made up the core... The core
of the building, which carried primarily gravity loads, was
made up of a mixture of massive box columns made from
threestory long plates, and heavy rolled wideflange
shapes.'' ``The core columns were designed to carry the
building gravity loads and were loaded to approximately
50% of their capacity before the aircraft impact.... the exte
rior columns were loaded to only approximately 20% of their
capacity before the aircraft impact'' [11].
We totally agree that the WTC Towers included ``mas
sive'' interconnected steel columns in the cores of the build
ings, in addition to the columns in the outside walls. The
central core columns bore much of the gravity loads so the
Towers were clearly NOT hollow. Yet the false notion that
the Towers were ``hollow tubes'' with the floors supported
just by the perimeter columns seems to have gained wide
acceptance. For example, an emeritus structural engineering
professor asserted, ``The structural design of the towers was
unique in that the supporting steel structure consisted of
closely spaced columns in the walls of all four sides. The
resulting structure was similar to a tube...'' [12].
The fact is the Towers were constructed with a substan
tial loadsupporting core structure as well as perimeter col
umns -- and on this point we agree with NIST in dispelling
false popular notions.
5. Essentially in Free Fall
NIST: [Question:] ``How could the WTC towers collapse
in only 11 seconds (WTC 1) and 9 seconds (WTC 2)---
speeds that approximate that of a ball dropped from similar
height in a vacuum (with no air resistance)?'' [Answer:]
...As documented in Section 6.14.4 of NIST NCSTAR 1,
these collapse times show that: ``... the structure below the
level of collapse initiation offered minimal resistance to the
falling building mass at and above the impact zone. The po
tential energy released by the downward movement of the
large building mass far exceeded the capacity of the intact
structure below to absorb that energy through energy of de
formation. Since the stories below the level of collapse ini
tiation provided little resistance to the tremendous energy
released by the falling building mass, the building section
above came down essentially in free fall, as seen in videos''
[3].
We agree with some of this, that the building ``came
down essentially in free fall, as seen in videos.'' This is an
important starting point. (Because of obscuring dust clouds,
it is difficult to determine the exact fall times, but the state
ment that the buildings ``came down essentially in free fall''
seems correct when accelerations are viewed, for the WTC
Towers and also for WTC 7.) [13, 14] Further, we agree with
NIST that ``the stories below the level of collapse initiation
provided little resistance'' to the fall -- but we ask -- how
could that be? NIST mentions ``energy of deformation''
which for the huge core columns in the Towers would be
considerable, and they need to be quantitative about it
(which they were not) in order to claim that the ``intact struc
ture'' below would not significantly slow the motion.
Beyond that, NIST evidently neglects a fundamental law
of physics in glibly treating the remarkable ``free fall'' col
lapse of each Tower, namely, the Law of Conservation of

WTC Destruction: Points of Agreement The Open Civil Engineering Journal, 2008, Volume 2 37
Momentum. This law of physics means that the hundreds of
thousands of tons of material in the way must slow the upper
part of the building because of its mass, independent of de
formation which can only slow the fall even more. (Energy
and Momentum must both be conserved.)
Published papers have argued that this negligence by
NIST (leaving the nearfreefall speeds unexplained) is a
major flaw in their analysis [13, 14]. NIST ignores the possi
bility of controlled demolitions, which achieve complete
building collapses in near freefall times by moving the ma
terial out of the way using explosives. So, there is an alterna
tive explanation that fits the data without violating basic
laws of physics. We should be able to agree from observing
the nearfreefall destruction that this is characteristic of con
trolled demolitions and, therefore, that controlled demolition
is one way to achieve complete collapse at near freefall
speed. Then we are keen to look at NIST's calculations of
how they explain nearfreefall collapse rates without explo
sives.
We await an explanation from NIST which satisfies Con
servation of Momentum and Energy for the rapid and com
plete destruction of all three WTC skyscrapers on 9/11, or a
discussion of alternative hypotheses that are consistent with
momentum and energy conservation in these nearfreefall
events.
6. Fire Endurance Tests, No Failure
NIST: ``NIST contracted with Underwriters Laboratories,
Inc. to conduct tests to obtain information on the fire endur
ance of trusses like those in the WTC towers.... All four test
specimens sustained the maximum design load for approxi
mately 2 hours without collapsing... The Investigation Team
was cautious about using these results directly in the formu
lation of collapse hypotheses. In addition to the scaling is
sues raised by the test results, the fires in the towers on Sep
tember 11, and the resulting exposure of the floor systems,
were substantially different from the conditions in the test
furnaces. Nonetheless, the [empirical test] results established
that this type of assembly was capable of sustaining a large
gravity load, without collapsing, for a substantial period of
time relative to the duration of the fires in any given location
on September 11'' [4].
We agree that NIST had actual fire tests completed and
that all four ``trusses like those in the WTC towers'' survived
the fireendurance testing ``without collapsing.'' We also
agree that ``the fires in the towers on September 11 ... were
substantially different from the conditions in the test fur
naces;'' the test furnaces were hotter and burned longer.
NIST may wish to perform a series of different tests in an
endeavor to discover some other hypothesis for collapse ini
tiation. As it stands, however, we have no physical evidence
supporting the concept of total collapse due to fire from real
fireendurance tests. On the contrary, these reallife tests
indicate that the buildings should not have completely col
lapsed. In addition, we have hundreds of cases of fires in tall
steelframe buildings and complete collapse has never oc
curred.
But experts said no building like it [WTC7], a
modern, steelreinforced highrise, had ever col
lapsed because of an uncontrolled fire, and engi
neers have been trying to figure out exactly what
happened and whether they should be worried
about other buildings like it around the country....
Although the fireproofing was intended to with
stand ordinary fires for at least two hours, experts
said buildings the size of 7 World Trade Center
that are treated with such coatings have never col
lapsed in a fire of any duration. Most of three
other buildings in the complex, 4, 5 and 6 World
Trade, stood despite suffering damage of all kinds,
including fire [15].
Fire engineering expert Norman Glover agrees:
Almost all large buildings will be the location for
a major fire in their useful life. No major highrise
building has ever collapsed from fire... The WTC
[itself] was the location for such a fire in 1975;
however, the building survived with minor dam
age and was repaired and returned to service [16].
Yet three such highrise buildings (WTC 1, 2 and 7)
completely collapsed on a single day, 9/11/2001, and could
not be returned to service. There is much left to learn here.
7. Fires of Short Duration
NIST: ``The initial jet fuel fires themselves lasted at most
a few minutes'' [4]. ``At any given location, the duration of
[air, not steel] temperatures near 1,000 C was about 15 min
to 20 min. The rest of the time, the calculated temperatures
were near 500 C or below'' [4].
We agree. But then, given that the fires were brief and
patchy, how did both towers experience suddenonset failure
of structural steel over a broad area in each tower and how
could the collapses of all three WTC highrises have been so
symmetrical and complete? [13, 14, 17] We seek discussion
on these points.
8. WTC Fires Did Not Melt Steel
NIST: ``In no instance did NIST report that steel in the
WTC towers melted due to the fires. The melting point of
steel is about 1,500 degrees Celsius (2,800 degrees Fahren
heit). Normal building fires and hydrocarbon (e.g., jet fuel)
fires generate temperatures up to about 1,100 degrees Cel
sius (2,000 degrees Fahrenheit). NIST reported maximum
upper layer air temperatures of about 1,000 degrees Celsius
(1,800 degrees Fahrenheit) in the WTC towers (for example,
see NCSTAR 1, figure 636)'' [3].
Agreed. We also find agreement with Prof. Thomas Ea
gar on this point:
The fire is the most misunderstood part of the
WTC collapse. Even today, the media report (and
many scientists believe) that the steel melted. It is
argued that the jet fuel burns very hot, especially
with so much fuel present. This is not true.... The
temperature of the fire at the WTC was not un
usual, and it was most definitely not capable of
melting steel [18].
We are in remarkable agreement, then: the WTC fires
were not capable of melting steel. Of course, NIST then may
have trouble explaining the molten material flowing out of
the South Tower just before its collapse, as well as evidence
for temperatures much higher than NIST's reported 1,100 C

38 The Open Civil Engineering Journal, 2008, Volume 2 Jones et al.
[13]. We offer to discuss explanations for the observed high
temperatures.
9. Destruction of WTC Steel Evidence
NIST: ``NIST possesses 236 structural steel elements
from the World Trade Center (WTC) buildings. These pieces
represent a small fraction of the enormous amount of steel
examined at the various recovery yards where the debris was
sent as the WTC site was cleared. It is estimated that roughly
0.25 percent to 0.5 percent of the 200,000 tons of steel used
in the construction of the two towers was recovered.'' ``The
lack of WTC 7 steel precludes tests on actual material from
the structure...'' [1].
Thus, only a tiny fraction of steel was analyzed from the
WTC Towers, and none of the WTC 7 steel was analyzed by
NIST. What happened to the rest of the steel from the crime
scene?
For more than three months, structural steel from
the World Trade Center has been and continues to
be cut up and sold for scrap. Crucial evidence that
could answer many questions about highrise
building design practices and performance under
fire conditions is on the slow boat to China, per
haps never to be seen again in America until you
buy your next car.
Such destruction of evidence shows the astound
ing ignorance of government officials to the value
of a thorough, scientific investigation of the larg
est fireinduced collapse in world history. I have
combed through our national standard for fire in
vestigation, NFPA 921, but nowhere in it does one
find an exemption allowing the destruction of evi
dence for buildings over 10 stories tall [19].
And although only a small fraction of the steel was saved
for testing, it is clear that an ``enormous amount'' of the WTC
steel was examined either for or by NIST, and the samples
selected were chosen for their identified importance to the
NIST investigation [20].
We agree that only a ``small fraction of the enormous
amount of steel'' from the Towers was spared and the rest
was rapidly recycled. The destruction of about 99% of the
steel, evidence from a crime scene, was suspicious and
probably illegal, hopefully we can agree to that.
10. Unusual Bright Flame and Glowing Liquid (WTC 2)
NIST: ``An unusual flame is visible within this fire. In the
upper photograph {Fig 944} a very bright flame, as opposed
to the typical yellow or orange surrounding flames, which is
generating a plume of white smoke, stands out'' [4].
``NIST reported (NCSTAR 15A) that just before 9:52
a.m., a bright spot appeared at the top of a window on the
80th floor of WTC 2, four windows removed from the east
edge on the north face, followed by the flow of a glowing
liquid. This flow lasted approximately four seconds before
subsiding. Many such liquid flows were observed from near
this location in the seven minutes leading up to the collapse
of this tower'' [3].
We agree and congratulate NIST for including these ob
servations of an ``unusual flame... which is generating a
plume of white smoke'' [4] ``followed by the flow of a glow
ing liquid'' having ``an orange glow'' [3]. With regard to the
``very bright flame... which is generating a plume of white
smoke'', NIST effectively rules out burning aluminum, be
cause ``Aluminum is not expected to ignite at normal fire
temperatures...'' [3].
Again, we agree.
The origins of this very bright flame and of the associ
ated flow of an orangeglowing liquid remain open questions
in the NIST report. NIST opened a very appropriate line of
investigation by publishing these significant clues from the
data, [3,4] providing an important starting point for further
discussion which we seek.
11. HighTemperature Steel Attack, Sulfidation
FEMA (based on work by a Worchester Polytechnic In
stitute investigative team): ``Sample 1 (From WTC 7)... Evi
dence of a severe high temperature corrosion attack on the
steel, including oxidation and sulfidation with subsequent
intergranular melting, was readily visible in the nearsurface
microstructure.... Sample 2 (From WTC 1 or WTC 2)... The
thinning of the steel occurred by high temperature corrosion
due to a combination of oxidation and sulfidation. ...The
severe corrosion and subsequent erosion of Samples 1 and 2
are a very unusual event. No clear explanation for the source
of the sulfur has been identified... A detailed study into the
mechanisms of this phenomenon is needed...'' [2]
We agree that the physical evidence for ``severe high
temperature corrosion attack'' involving sulfur is compelling.
Here we have grounds for an interesting discussion: How
were ``severe high temperatures'' reached in the WTC build
ings? What is the source of the sulfur that attacked the steel
in these buildings? The answers to these questions may help
us find the explanation for the ``total collapse'' of the Towers
and WTC 7 that we are all looking for.
The WPI researchers published their results [2,21] and
called for ``a detailed study'' of this ``hightemperature'' ``oxi
dation and sulfidation'' phenomenon. Yet the results were
unfortunately ignored by NIST in their subsequent reports on
the Towers' destruction [3,4]. Their failure to respond to this
documented anomaly is a striking phenomenon in itself. Per
haps NIST will explain and correct this oversight by consid
ering the hightemperature sulfidation data in their long
overdue report on the collapse of WTC 7. The existence of
severe high temperatures in the WTC destruction is by now
very well established [22]. It appears that NIST has inadver
tently overlooked this evidence and we offer to investigate
the matter with them, in pursuit of understanding and secu
rity.
12. Computer Modeling and Visualizations
NIST: ``The more severe case (which became Case B for
WTC 1 and Case D for WTC 2) was used for the global
analysis of each tower. Complete sets of simulations were
then performed for Cases B and D. To the extent that the
simulations deviated from the photographic evidence or
eyewitness reports [e.g., complete collapse occurred], the
investigators adjusted the input, but only within the range of
physical reality. Thus, for instance...the pulling forces on the
perimeter columns by the sagging floors were adjusted... [4]
``The primary role of the floors in the collapse of the towers

WTC Destruction: Points of Agreement The Open Civil Engineering Journal, 2008, Volume 2 39
was to provide inward pull forces that induced inward bow
ing of perimeter columns [4]. ``The results were a simulation
of the structural deterioration of each tower from the time of
aircraft impact to the time at which the building became un
stable, i.e., was poised for collapse... [4].
We agree that NIST resorted to complex computer simu
lations and no doubt ``adjusted the input'' to account for the
Towers' destruction, after the fireendurance physical tests
did not support their preordained collapse theory.
But the end result of such tweaked computer models,
which were provided without visualizations and without suf
ficient detail for others to validate them, is hardly compel
ling. An article in the journal New Civil Engineer states:
World Trade Center disaster investigators [at
NIST] are refusing to show computer visualisa
tions of the collapse of the Twin Towers despite
calls from leading structural and fire engineers,
NCE has learned. Visualisations of collapse
mechanisms are routinely used to validate the type
of finite element analysis model used by the
[NIST] investigators. ...A leading US structural
engineer said NIST had obviously devoted enor
mous resources to the development of the impact
and fire models. ``By comparison the global struc
tural model is not as sophisticated,'' he said. ``The
software used [by NIST] has been pushed to new
limits, and there have been a lot of simplifications,
extrapolations and judgment calls'' [23].
Further detailed comments on the NIST computer simu
lations are provided by Eric Douglas [24].
We would like to discuss the computer modeling and
extrapolations made by NIST and the need for visualizations
using numerical and graphical tools to scrutinize and validate
the finiteelement analysis.
13. Total Collapse Explanation Lacking
NIST: ``This letter is in response to your April 12, 2007
request for correction... we are unable to provide a full ex
planation of the total collapse'' [25].
This admission by NIST after publishing some 10,000
pages on the collapse of the Towers shows admirable candor,
yet may come as a bit of a shock to interested parties includ
ing Congress, which commissioned NIST to find a full ex
planation.
We agree that NIST so far has not provided a full expla
nation for the total collapse. Indeed they take care to explain
that their report stops short of the collapse, only taking the
investigation up to the point where each Tower ``was poised
for collapse'' [4]. We offer to help find that elusive ``full ex
planation of the total collapse'' of the WTC Towers which
killed so many innocent people, in the hope that it does not
happen again. We have a few ideas and can back these up
with experimental data [13, 22]. Our interest is in physical
evidence and analysis leading to a full understanding of the
destruction of the WTC.
14. Search for Explosive or Thermite Residues
From a NIST FAQ: [Question: ] ``Did the NIST investi
gation look for evidence of the WTC towers being brought
down by controlled demolition? Was the steel tested for ex
plosives or thermite residues? The combination of thermite
and sulfur (called thermate) "slices through steel like a hot
knife through butter." [Answer: ] NIST did not test for the
residue of these compounds in the steel'' [3].
We agree; there is no evidence that NIST tested for resi
dues of thermite or explosives. This is another remarkable
admission. Probing for residues from pyrotechnic materials
including thermite in particular, is specified in fire and ex
plosion investigations by the NFPA 921 code:
Unusual residues might remain from the initial
fuel. Those residues could arise from thermite,
magnesium, or other pyrotechnic materials [26].
Traces of thermite in residues (solidified slag, dust, etc.)
would tell us a great deal about the crime and the cause of
thousands of injuries and deaths. This is standard procedure
for fire and explosion investigations. Perhaps NIST will ex
plain why they have not looked for these residues? The code
specifies that firescene investigators must be prepared to
justify an exclusion [26].
NIST has been asked about this important issue recently,
by investigative reporter Jennifer Abel:
Abel: "..what about that letter where NIST said it
didn't look for evidence of explosives?'' Neuman
[spokesperson at NIST, listed on the WTC report]:
"Right, because there was no evidence of that."
Abel: But how can you know there's no evidence if
you don't look for it first? Neuman: "If you're
looking for something that isn't there, you're wast
ing your time... and the taxpayers' money.'' [27].
The evident evasiveness of this answer might be humor
ous if not for the fact that NIST's approach here affects the
lives of so many innocent people. We do not think that look
ing for thermite or other residues specified in the NFPA 921
code is ``wasting your time.'' We may be able to help out
here as well, for we have looked for such residues in the
WTC remains using stateoftheart analytical methods, es
pecially in the voluminous toxic dust that was produced as
the buildings fell and killed thousands of people, and the
evidence for thermite use is mounting. [13, 22]
CONCLUSIONS
We have enumerated fourteen areas where we are in
agreement with FEMA and NIST in their investigations of
the tragic and shocking destruction of the World Trade Cen
ter. We agree that the Towers fell at near freefall speed and
that is an important starting point. We agree that several
popular myths have been shown to be wrong, such as the
idea that steel in the buildings melted due to the fires, or that
the Towers were hollow tubes, or that floors ``pancaked'' to
account for total Tower collapses. We agree that the collapse
of the 47story WTC 7 (which was not hit by a jet) is hard to
explain from the point of view of a fireinduced mechanism
and that NIST has refused (so far) to look for residues of
explosives [3, 22, 27]. Our investigative team would like to
build from this foundation and correspond with the NIST
investigation team, especially since they have candidly con
ceded (in a reply to some of us in September 2007):
``...we are unable to provide a full explanation of the total
collapse'' [25].

40 The Open Civil Engineering Journal, 2008, Volume 2 Jones et al.
We are offering to discuss these matters in a civil manner
as a matter of scientific and engineering courtesy and civic
duty. The lives of thousands of people may very well depend
on it.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks for useful discussions with Jim Hoffman,
Dr. Gregory Jenkins, Dr. Jeffrey Farrer, Prof. Kenneth Kut
tler, Prof. David R. Griffin, Gregg Roberts, Brad Larsen,
Gordon Ross, Prof. David Griscom, Prof. Graeme Mac
Queen, and researchers at AE911Truth.org and STJ911.org.
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[2] Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), World Trade
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Emergency Management Agency, May 2002.
[3] S. Sunder, W. Grosshandler, H. S. Lew, et al. ``National Institute of
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[Accessed April 5, 2008].
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casting System, 2002. [Online]. Available: http://www.pbs.org/

wgbh/nova/transcripts/2907_wtc.html [Accessed March 17, 2008].
[8] J. B. Meigs, D. Dunbar, B. Reagan, et al. ``Debunking the 9/11
myths, special report'', Popular Mechanics, vol. 182, pp. 7081,
March 2005.
[9] D. R. Griffin, Debunking 9/11 debunking: ``An answer to Popular
Mechanics and other defenders of the official conspiracy theory'',
Northampton, MA: Interlink Books, 2007.
[10] S. Sundar, Opening remarks of Dr. S. Shyam Sunder (NIST), May
2006. [Online]. Available: NIST, http://wtc.nist.gov/media/

Sunder_Progressive%20Collapse_Remarks_050106.pdf [Accessed
March 27, 2008].
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ory'', The College Times, p. A6.
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www.journalof911studies.com [Accessed March 17, 2008].
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January 2002, p. 4.
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Gage, ``Appeal filed with NIST pursuant to earlier request for cor
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www.journalof911studies.com [Accessed March 17, 2008].
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microstructural analysis of A36 steel from WTC building 7'', JOM,
vol. 53, no. 12, p. 18, December 2001.
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peratures during the World Trade Center destruction'', Journal of
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www.journalof911studies.com [Accessed March 17, 2008].
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http://www.nce.co.uk/news/2005/11/wtc_investigators_resist_call_

for_collapse_visualisation.html [Accessed April 8, 2008].
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simulation? A review of NIST NCSTAR 1'', Journal of 9/11 Stud
ies, vol. 6, pp. 128, December 2006. [Online]. Available:

www.journalof911studies.com [Accessed March 17, 2008].
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nal of 9/11 Studies, vol. 17, pp. 1723, November 2007. [Online].
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2008].
[26] National Fire Protection Association, ``Guide for fire and explosion
investigations'', NFPA 921. [Online]. Available: http://www.nfpa.

org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=921 [Accessed
March 17, 2008].
[27] J. Abel, ``Theories of 9/11'', Hartford Advocate, Hartford, Con
necticut, January 29, 2008. [Online]. Available: http://www.

hartfordadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=5546 with reply: http://

www.hartfordadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=5674 [Accessed
March 17, 2008].
Received: March 17, 2008 Revised: April 02, 2008 Accepted: April 08, 2008

we seek.
11. HighTemperature Steel Attack, Sulfidation
FEMA (based on work by a Worchester Polytechnic In
stitute investigative team): ``Sample 1 (From WTC 7)... Evi
dence of a severe high temperature corrosion attack on the
steel, including oxidation and sulfidation with subsequent
intergranular melting, was readily visible in the nearsurface
microstructure.... Sample 2 (From WTC 1 or WTC 2)... The
thinning of the steel occurred by high temperature corrosion
due to a combination of oxidation and sulfidation. ...The
severe corrosion and subsequent erosion of Samples 1 and 2
are a very unusual event. No clear explanation for the source
of the sulfur has been identified... A detailed study into the
mechanisms of this phenomenon is needed...'' [2]
We agree that the physical evidence for ``severe high
temperature corrosion attack'' involving sulfur is compelling.
Here we have grounds for an interesting discussion: How
were ``severe high temperatures'' reached in the WTC build
ings? What is the source of the sulfur that attacked the steel
in these buildings? The answers to these questions may help
us find the explanation for the ``total collapse'' of the Towers
and WTC 7 that we are all looking for.
The WPI researchers published their results [2,21] and
called for ``a detailed study'' of this ``hightemperature'' ``oxi
dation and sulfidation'' phenomenon. Yet the results were
unfortunately ignored by NIST in their subsequent reports on
the Towers' destruction [3,4]. Their failure to respond to this
documented anomaly is a striking phenomenon in itself. Per
haps NIST will explain and correct this oversight by consid
ering the hightemperature sulfidation data in their long
overdue report on the collapse of WTC 7. The existence of
severe high temperatures in the WTC destruction is by now
very well established [22]. It appears that NIST has inadver
tently overlooked this evidence and we offer to investigate
the matter with them, in pursuit of understanding and secu
rity.
12. Computer Modeling and Visualizations
NIST: ``The more severe case (which became Case B for
WTC 1 and Case D for WTC 2) was used for the global
analysis of each tower. Complete sets of simulations were
then performed for Cases B and D. To the extent that the
simulations deviated from the photographic evidence or
eyewitness reports [e.g., complete collapse occurred], the
investigators adjusted the input, but only within the range of
physical reality. Thus, for instance...the pulling forces on the
perimeter columns by the sagging floors were adjusted... [4]
``The primary role of the floors in the collapse of the towers

WTC Destruction: Points of Agreement The Open Civil Engineering Journal, 2008, Volume 2 39
was to provide inward pull forces that induced inward bow
ing of perimeter columns [4]. ``The results were a simulation
of the structural deterioration of each tower from the time of
aircraft impact to the time at which the building became un
stable, i.e., was poised for collapse... [4].
We agree that NIST resorted to complex computer simu
lations and no doubt ``adjusted the input'' to account for the
Towers' destruction, after the fireendurance physical tests
did not support their preordained collapse theory.
But the end result of such tweaked computer models,
which were provided without visualizations and without suf
ficient detail for others to validate them, is hardly compel
ling. An article in the journal New Civil Engineer states:
World Trade Center disaster investigators [at
NIST] are refusing to show computer visualisa
tions of the collapse of the Twin Towers despite
calls from leading structural and fire engineers,
NCE has learned. Visualisations of collapse
mechanisms are routinely used to validate the type
of finite element analysis model used by the
[NIST] investigators. ...A leading US structural
engineer said NIST had obviously devoted enor
mous resources to the development of the impact
and fire models. ``By comparison the global struc
tural model is not as sophisticated,'' he said. ``The
software used [by NIST] has been pushed to new
limits, and there have been a lot of simplifications,
extrapolations and judgment calls'' [23].
Further detailed comments on the NIST computer simu
lations are provided by Eric Douglas [24].
We would like to discuss the computer modeling and
extrapolations made by NIST and the need for visualizations
using numerical and graphical tools to scrutinize and validate
the finiteelement analysis.
13. Total Collapse Explanation Lacking
NIST: ``This letter is in response to your April 12, 2007
request for correction... we are unable to provide a full ex
planation of the total collapse'' [25].
This admission by NIST after publishing some 10,000
pages on the collapse of the Towers shows admirable candor,
yet may come as a bit of a shock to interested parties includ
ing Congress, which commissioned NIST to find a full ex
planation.
We agree that NIST so far has not provided a full expla
nation for the total collapse. Indeed they take care to explain
that their report stops short of the collapse, only taking the
investigation up to the point where each Tower ``was poised
for collapse'' [4]. We offer to help find that elusive ``full ex
planation of the total collapse'' of the WTC Towers which
killed so many innocent people, in the hope that it does not
happen again. We have a few ideas and can back these up
with experimental data [13, 22]. Our interest is in physical
evidence and analysis leading to a full understanding of the
destruction of the WTC.
14. Search for Explosive or Thermite Residues
From a NIST FAQ: [Question: ] ``Did the NIST investi
gation look for evidence of the WTC towers being brought
down by controlled demolition? Was the steel tested for ex
plosives or thermite residues? The combination of thermite
and sulfur (called thermate) "slices through steel like a hot
knife through butter." [Answer: ] NIST did not test for the
residue of these compounds in the steel'' [3].
We agree; there is no evidence that NIST tested for resi
dues of thermite or explosives. This is another remarkable
admission. Probing for residues from pyrotechnic materials
including thermite in particular, is specified in fire and ex
plosion investigations by the NFPA 921 code:
Unusual residues might remain from the initial
fuel. Those residues could arise from thermite,
magnesium, or other pyrotechnic materials [26].
Traces of thermite in residues (solidified slag, dust, etc.)
would tell us a great deal about the crime and the cause of
thousands of injuries and deaths. This is standard procedure
for fire and explosion investigations. Perhaps NIST will ex
plain why they have not looked for these residues? The code
specifies that firescene investigators must be prepared to
justify an exclusion [26].
NIST has been asked about this important issue recently,
by investigative reporter Jennifer Abel:
Abel: "..what about that letter where NIST said it
didn't look for evidence of explosives?'' Neuman
[spokesperson at NIST, listed on the WTC report]:
"Right, because there was no evidence of that."
Abel: But how can you know there's no evidence if
you don't look for it first? Neuman: "If you're
looking for something that isn't there, you're wast
ing your time... and the taxpayers' money.'' [27].
The evident evasiveness of this answer might be humor
ous if not for the fact that NIST's approach here affects the
lives of so many innocent people. We do not think that look
ing for thermite or other residues specified in the NFPA 921
code is ``wasting your time.'' We may be able to help out
here as well, for we have looked for such residues in the
WTC remains using stateoftheart analytical methods, es
pecially in the voluminous toxic dust that was produced as
the buildings fell and killed thousands of people, and the
evidence for thermite use is mounting. [13, 22]
CONCLUSIONS
We have enumerated fourteen areas where we are in
agreement with FEMA and NIST in their investigations of
the tragic and shocking destruction of the World Trade Cen
ter. We agree that the Towers fell at near freefall speed and
that is an important starting point. We agree that several
popular myths have been shown to be wrong, such as the
idea that steel in the buildings melted due to the fires, or that
the Towers were hollow tubes, or that floors ``pancaked'' to
account for total Tower collapses. We agree that the collapse
of the 47story WTC 7 (which was not hit by a jet) is hard to
explain from the point of view of a fireinduced mechanism
and that NIST has refused (so far) to look for residues of
explosives [3, 22, 27]. Our investigative team would like to
build from this foundation and correspond with the NIST
investigation team, especially since they have candidly con
ceded (in a reply to some of us in September 2007):
``...we are unable to provide a full explanation of the total
collapse'' [25].

40 The Open Civil Engineering Journal, 2008, Volume 2 Jones et al.
We are offering to discuss these matters in a civil manner
as a matter of scientific and engineering courtesy and civic
duty. The lives of thousands of people may very well depend
on it.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks for useful discussions with Jim Hoffman,
Dr. Gregory Jenkins, Dr. Jeffrey Farrer, Prof. Kenneth Kut
tler, Prof. David R. Griffin, Gregg Roberts, Brad Larsen,
Gordon Ross, Prof. David Griscom, Prof. Graeme Mac
Queen, and researchers at AE911Truth.org and STJ911.org.
REFERENCES
[1] S. W. Banovic, ``Federal building and fire safety investigation of
the World Trade Center disaster: Steel inventory and identification,
NIST NCSTAR13B''. Gaithersburg, MD: National Institute of
Standards and Technology, September 2005.
[2] Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), World Trade
Center building performance study: Preliminary observations, and
recommendations, Report FEMA 403. Washington, D.C.: Federal
Emergency Management Agency, May 2002.
[3] S. Sunder, W. Grosshandler, H. S. Lew, et al. ``National Institute of
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[23] D. Parker, ``WTC investigators resist call for collapse visualisa
tion'', New Civil Engineer, November 1, 2005. [Online]. Available:

http://www.nce.co.uk/news/2005/11/wtc_investigators_resist_call_

hartfordadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=5546 with reply: http://

www.hartfordadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=5674 [Accessed
March 17, 2008].
Received: March 17, 2008 Revised: April 02, 2008 Accepted: April 08, 2008

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