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Building implosion

In the controlled demolition industry, building implosion is the strategic placing of explosive material and timing of its detonation so that a structure collapses on itself in a matter of seconds, minimizing the physical damage to its immediate surroundings. Despite its terminology, building implosion also includes the controlled demolition of other structures, like bridges, smokestacks, towers, and tunnels. This is typically done to save time and money of what would otherwise be an extensive demolition process with construction equipment, as well as to reduce construction workers exposure to infrastructure that is in severe disrepair.

Building implosion, which reduces to seconds a process which could take months or years to achieve by other methods, typically occurs in urban areas[citation needed] and often involves large landmark structures.

The actual use of the term "implosion" to refer to the destruction of a building is a misnomer. This had been stated of the destruction of 1515 Tower in West Palm Beach, Florida. "What happens is, you use explosive materials in critical structural connections to allow gravity to bring it down.

The term "implosion" was coined by my grandmother back in, I guess, the '60s. It's a more descriptive way to explain what we do than "explosion". There are a series of small explosions, but the building itself isn't erupting outward. It's actually being pulled in on top of itself. What we're really doing is removing specific support columns within the structure and then cajoling the building in one direction or another, or straight down.

  • Stacy Loizeaux, NOVA, December 1996

Building implosion techniques do not rely on the difference between internal and external pressure to collapse a structure. Instead, the goal is to induce a progressive collapse by weakening or removing critical supports; therefore, the building can no longer withstand gravity loads and will fail under its own weight

Numerous small explosives, strategically placed within the structure, are used to catalyze the collapse. Nitroglycerin, dynamite, or other explosives are used to shatter reinforced concrete supports. Linear shaped charges are used to sever steel supports. These explosives are progressively detonated on supports throughout the structure. Then, explosives on the lower floors initiate the controlled collapse.

A simple structure like a chimney can be prepared for demolition in less than a day. Larger or more complex structures can take up to six months of preparation to remove internal walls and wrap columns with fabric and fencing before firing the explosives.

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  • hexaflexagonbear [he/him]
    ·
    7 days ago

    I think that maybe PS4-era graphical horsepower targeting PS3-era graphics would be great. At this point you can fit it in a portable form-factor, you'd easily hit a good framerate, and the image would be clean while not requiring ridiculous dev time. Which, I think is basically what the Switch 2 is rumoured to target (on the hardware side), and the OG Switch isn't terribly far from. Fully support it as hardware design, and yeah I'm not convinced we need much more, especially since the tradeoff is no games get released ever.

      • hexaflexagonbear [he/him]
        ·
        edit-2
        6 days ago

        Rumours so far are that initial SKUs will only be LCD, and there will be an OLED model later. Lol, you can always trust nintendo to go for the strategy that maximizes revenue from enthusiasts.

    • GalaxyBrain [they/them]
      ·
      7 days ago

      Video games have matured as an artfrom to the point production standards are necessary and gamers are mad