NIST Refutes 9/11 Conspiracy Theories (National Institute of Standards and Technology)

EE Times ^ | 08/30/2006 | George Leopold

[nickcarraway]

The government is taking the unusual step of responding to conspiracy theories about the destruction of the World Trade Center.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, Gaithersberg, Md.), which investigated the causes of the collapse of the twin towers, said Wednesday (Aug. 30) that it has posted a "fact sheet" addressing alternatve theories about the fires and collapse. Several academics have put forth a "controlled demolition" and missile attack hypotheses for the destruction of the towers.

NIST concluded after a three-year building and fire safety investigation that the towers collapsed after being hit by separate, fuel-laden aircraft flown by terrorists. The impacts severed and damaged support columns, dislodging fireproofing insulation and dispersing jet fuel over multiple floors of each tower.

The resulting fire, which reached temperatures as high as 1,000 degrees C, weakened floors and columns, causing upper floors to collapse after sagging and pulling inward on perimeter columns. "This led to the inward bowing of the perimeter columns and failure of the south face of WTC 1 and the east face of WTC 2, initiating the collapse of each of the towers," NIST concluded.

NIST's probe rejected claims that upper floors "pancaked" on top of lower floors, causing the collapses. Other investigations pointed to huge amounts of office supplies, especially paper, as a source of fuel that significantly raised the temperature of tower fires beyond those that jet fuel would normally burn outside of an aircraft engine combustion chamber.

"Both photographic and video evidence—as well as accounts from the New York Police Department aviation unit during a half-hour period prior to collapse—support this sequence for each tower." NIST concluded.

Far more controversial are theories about explosions inside the towers. Conspiracy theorists postulate that puffs of smoke seen at the time of each collapse are evidence of a controlled demolition. Critics of the official probe also cited seismic data they claim showed evidence of explosions just before each tower collapsed. Other theories alleged missiles were fired at the doomed towers.

While both NIST and the 9/11 Commission have dismissed these theories, U.S. officials have been compelled to address allegations widely disseminated on the Internet.

"NIST respects the opinions of others who do not agree with the findings in its report on the [World Trade Center] collapses," the agency said in a statement. "However, the WTC Investigation Team stands solidly behind the collapse mechanisms for each tower and the sequences of events (from aircraft impact to collapse) as described in the report."

[lesser_satan]

bump

[lesser_satan]

I'm sure that the Karl Rove/ Chimpy McHitlerburton Weather Machine has something to do with that.

[american spirit]

According to the project manager, Mr. DeMartini all those buildings were designed to withstand major impacts.....including jetliners and I'm sure falling debris.

[NewHampshireDuo]

U.S. officials have been compelled to address allegations widely disseminated on the Internet by crazy moonbats and university professors.

[mvpel]

And in late June in Nizhniy Tagil, Russia, the sun actually rose in the north-northeast. ;-)

[DBrow]

American Spirit, first answer this- what speed should it have fallen at, and what do you base your answer on?

[american spirit]

The melting point of the steel is approx. 2700 degrees....how hot can diesel fuel burn?

[UseYourHead]

[question value=stupid style=moonbat]Do they have a reasonable explanation for WTC7 coming down in less than 10 seconds without taking a direct hit from a plane or having any major fires? [/question]

Engineering degrees are offered in many of today's modern universities to help but not all ignorance and stupidity can be overcome by the obvious.

Now where is the bunny with the pancake on its head?

[American Quilter]

And in late June in Nizhniy Tagil, Russia, the sun actually rose in the north-northeast. ;-)

See???? The world needs my study!

[DBrow]

Steel does not need to melt to bend.

What do they use at steel mills for fuel to melt steel?

[UseYourHead]

It was suspicious that it came down so fast......how do you explain it?

uh, gravity?

[AnAmericanMother]

Basically, you had a ferocious fire on a middle floor (5 or 7) fueled by a fuel tank in the basement that continually pumped fuel up to the fire. Think a giant blast furnace, continually weakening the structure.

As for the speed with which the building collapsed, look into something called "failure of redundancy". Once a building reaches its failure point, a chain reaction ensues and the whole thing comes down within seconds.

I can very highly recommend this book:

You'll find that most major structural failures happen in a big hurry. The warning signs are subtle; the actual collapse is sudden (I used to work in construction law, and did a lot of litigation involving construction failures of various kinds. Bought this book on the recommendation of a colleague.)

[DBrow]

I do so miss Oolong, may his bunny soul rest in peace.

[Malsua]

Easy to explain it. You've filled your noodle with a bunch of mush about PNAC, NWO, Trilateral Commission, Bildeberger, Illuminati. *list conspiracy here*, and you'll happily gargle it.

[mvpel]

The two WTC towers did, in fact, withstand major impact. They didn't fall until over an hour after each plane hit, buying precious time for many occupants to escape.

[american spirit]

The only way I've ever seen a building fall that fast is by controlled demolition.......have you ever seen a building that was on fire, even for hours, fall so quickly?

[Irish_Thatcherite]

According to the project manager, Mr. DeMartini all those buildings were designed to withstand major impacts.....including jetliners and I'm sure falling debris.

They never really know til disaster strikes.

[UseYourHead]

Have you ever seen all the prep work it takes to get a building ready to drop in a controlled demolition? You can't have people working inside one after you do all the work needed and on a building of that size it would take weeks to prep and only after months of review had been done.

I take it you have this knowledge and expertise and wish to confess?

[mvpel]

Have you ever taken an air compressor nozzle and pointed it into a fire? Or even simply blown into the midst of hot coals?

The heat from the fire was undoubtedly creating enormous drafts as the cool surrounding air was drawn up into the inferno.

[No_More_Harkin]

It doesn't matter what you've seen. No one has ever seen anything like this and the NIST explanation is the most plausible. Read the article, please.