By Scott D. Coffman, PE
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The Woodlands at Clemson clubhouse floor collapsed in the early Sunday morning hours of October 20, 2018, injuring several individuals who had gathered for an annual homecoming weekend party. Several engineers and media outlets concluded that the rhythmic jumping (i.e., dancing) by a significant number of individuals was the cause of the floor collapse. However, two structural engineers who investigated the floor collapse found evidence that improper metal plate connected wood truss design and fabrication were more likely the proximate cause. The rhythmic dancing on the floor exposed a truss deficiency that prevented the truss system from supporting code-prescribed loads.
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