Concrete stack collapse

On November 14, 1993, a 600-foot concrete stack collapsed onto a coal-fired electric power plant killing one person and injuring four others. The incident occurred at a Texas Utilities plant near Mt. Pleasant, Texas while the facility was shut down for maintenance. Extensive damage occurred within the plant resulting in an extended outage. Destroyed in the incident were a 750 MW generator, a steam boiler, compressor, two... 

A technical analysis indicated that the falling mass released a significant amount of energy. This energy was absorbed when the mass hit the bottom, partly by the base of the stack and by the sides. The unsupported brick walls could not sustain this force and were probably blown out at the bottom by the force. The collapse of the brick stack imposed outward force on the lower walls of the outer concrete shroud and it failed and collapsed. 

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