A Case Study of Structural Repair of a Building Damaged by a Trailer Truck Collision

Abstract

A trailer container lost control and crashed into a three-story commercial building in Soi Suan Phak 32, Taling Chan District, causing severe structural damage, including a completely broken column and partial failure of floor-supporting beams. A team of volunteer engineers from the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT) conducted a structural assessment to establish a safe removal plan for the truck and designed a temporary bracing system to prevent further deterioration. The structural evaluation using visual inspection revealed that the building remained in its original position with no additional structural damage. Since the foundation could not be visually inspected, a SIDE ECHO TEST was performed to assess the integrity of the pile foundation supporting the damaged column. The results revealed a crack at 80 centimeters from the base of the affected column, leading to the decision to repair the existing pile and improve the foundation. Two structural repair options were proposed: (1) restoring the reinforced concrete structure to its original form or (2) modifying it into a steel frame structure. A comparative analysis was conducted, considering cost implications, construction duration, and legal constraints to support decision-making. Due to insurance claim limitations, the building owner opted to restore the reinforced concrete structure. The repair process followed a systematic engineering approach, including bracing installation, structural reinforcement, and controlled brace removal, aligning with the initial stabilization measures established by the engineering team.