No structural engineer would touch that mess. That mistake was already made when TDOT fired the first engineer.

I don't know if this was east or west side or both. I have never seen the plans. Dr Hirsch indicated he found plans in City Engineer's office (College Station, I assume) and when he saw the rebar size wasn't called out, he called the EOR in Houston, who checked their files and confirmed that the rebar had been sized (documented in calculations file) but were not called out on the plans. I assume that engineer developed the external reinforcing details.

I put this case study in our Engineering Ethics textbook, and used it as an example of the importance of communication in engineering.

I doubt that the second deck would have been supported by the first. Surely the second deck would have been supported by its own foundations.

I learned there is a guy named Dick Box

Please tell me his middle name is Norm or Nathan

You must have pre-gamed pretty hard to make the walls move. I know they didn't serve beer in the stadium back then.

Jack Klompus said:

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Similar issues with Evans Library. The structural engineers forgot to take into account the weight of the books.

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They also forgot to take into account aesthetics, natural sunlight, character or livability!

I was in the press box several times when I was in school. It moved, but it wasn't really that scary. I never noticed any movement in the stands. I'll be charitable and say it was because I was sawing varsity's horns off along with everyone else.

Harry Lime said:

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I always thought it was a myth based on an optical illusion. But I haven't done much structural engineering since my Lego days.

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Years ago there was a video that showed it actually moving from the vantage of the press box.

This is not the one I'm thinking of, it was much older.

Yes it’s true, Kyle Field press box does shake and sway with 100k+ Fightin’ Texas Aggies. #GigEm pic.twitter.com/o93NPsI8nY

— Texas A&M Athletics Communications (@12thmanPR) October 10, 2021

So, they're saying there's a chance the new press box could sway. pic.twitter.com/s4htKmuXV6

— Kate Hairopoulos (@khairopoulos) September 12, 2015

BuckshotJ said:

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I don't know if this was east or west side or both. I have never seen the plans. Dr Hirsch indicated he found plans in City Engineer's office (College Station, I assume) and when he saw the rebar size wasn't called out, he called the EOR in Houston, who checked their files and confirmed that the rebar had been sized (documented in calculations file) but were not called out on the plans. I assume that engineer developed the external reinforcing details.

I put this case study in our Engineering Ethics textbook, and used it as an example of the importance of communication in engineering.

I doubt that the second deck would have been supported by the first. Surely the second deck would have been supported by its own foundations.

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Photos:

1954 second deck with press box
1957 expansion showing new deck being built over old
Completed 1967 expansion

New structure supporting the 1967 deck was built on both sides of old deck.

Harry Lime said:

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wbt5845 said:

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As a structural engineer with about 35 years of experience, I can say that is perhaps the most inane article I've ever read.

Good thing the author's father never went up in the World Trade Center - may have filled his Depends.

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I thought you worked on airplanes?

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It's all ball bearings these days.

moses hall ag said:

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I don't doubt that the people in the press box said that they felt it sway. I doubt that it was actually swaying enough to feel it. As I said, unless I see a study or report that documents movement my experience tells me that the movement is perception due to sight.

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Can't speak for the press box, but as a freshman in 99, I was on third deck on the student side for an early season football game. Things were sparce up in the corners, so I decided to run up to the very top row, all the way to the MSC side in the very corner, just to take a look at campus from there. This was between quarters. Was turned around looking across the roof of G Rollie when the the war hymn kicked off.

Kyle was definitely swaying, regardless of whether I was looking at the roof of G Rollie or back towards the field. Not an optical allusion.

And still…

NO ONE TALKS ABOUT BUILDING 7.

The south end zone (2nd deck) was bobbing up and down during the Clemson game a handful of years ago. Bama last year may have had some moments too but I absolutely remember it during the Clemson game.

Keeper of The Spirits said:

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I learned there is a guy named Dick Box

Please tell me his middle name is Norm or Nathan

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My research indicates that middle name is " in a".

Bunk Moreland said:

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The south end zone (2nd deck) was bobbing up and down during the Clemson game a handful of years ago. Bama last year may have had some moments too but I absolutely remember it during the Clemson game.

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The second deck SEZ really used to bounce up and down in 2014. They came in and re-enforced some things in the off-season.

Well that's just stupid.

If concrete were to actually move like that it'd be gravel.

Hint: it wasn't.

Ags77 said:

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The only place I HAVENT sat in Kyle is the new endzone upper deck and I have been in the press box many times.

I have never experienced this swaying thing

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Sat upper South zone last year with the Gig'em pass. I wasn't comfortable multiple times during rap song bouncing around. Deck was moving.

TexasRebel said:

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Well that's just stupid.

If concrete were to actually move like that it'd be gravel.

Hint: it wasn't.

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You don't think reinforced concrete can move? Because I'll give you a hint, it absolutely can...

"Box, a retired dentist in Austin" I get all my structural engineering advice from my dentist, truly the best resource.

Decay said:

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TexasRebel said:

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Well that's just stupid.

If concrete were to actually move like that it'd be gravel.

Hint: it wasn't.

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You don't think reinforced concrete can move? Because I'll give you a hint, it absolutely can...

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It is actually designed to move. Plasticity of the mix design is important, but the placement and size of the structural rebar is paramount to the designed flexure of structures.

Decay said:

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TexasRebel said:

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Well that's just stupid.

If concrete were to actually move like that it'd be gravel.

Hint: it wasn't.

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You don't think reinforced concrete can move? Because I'll give you a hint, it absolutely can...

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Did I say it can't move?

Anybody ever been to the 12 club in Northgate on a game weekend? That place could some help from the experts on here?

fascinating thread. wish i were an engineer.