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Originally posted by ViewFromTheStars
My main question is what kicked all the dust (fireproofing?) off while it was falling? Did some sort of shockwave travel through the spire right before/as it fell?
bsbray11
I think the spire ultimately just fell, too, but there is way too much dark dust rolling off of those few core columns (over time, even) for me to think anything other than the steel to have been the source of it.
Originally posted by ViewFromTheStars
Another question I have is WHY was this 'spire' still standing momentarily after the collapse while there should be much stronger elements from the core still standing?
Gottago
One further thought. You have to be amazed at the incredible strength and integrity of the structure, to stand intact as long as it did while the top is exploding, if you consider the basement core has just been mini-nuked.
Originally posted by kix
Have you considered that the Demolition was so good that the building nearly fell at gravity speed and the removal of oxigen fron the vacuum created by the collapse left a shadow or ghost of smoke of similar size and proportions on the building?
Originally posted by Griff
Originally posted by Akareyon
The question remains: why did virtually all vertical steel components on that day follow gravity, i.e. straight down, instead of toppling?
Answer: No resistance. There are only a few ways that I can think of to achieve this. And structural damage and fire aren't them.