[Public-List] Steam bending Teak

[Janet Kirk]

At 02:21 AM 1/30/2010, Rachel wrote:

>Could I ask where you read about epoxy being subject to creep under
>load?  I'd like to read more about that.


Hi, Rachel... Sure thing. It turns out that the famous collapse of the 
ceiling panels in the Boston "Big Dig" tunnel was caused by epoxy creep. 
See, for instance:

    http://www.designnews.com/article/7922-_Epoxy_Creep_Main_Factor_in_Big_Dig_Ceiling_Panel_Collapse.php

or here for the epoxy maker's "it wasn't my fault":

    http://www.boston.com/news/traffic/bigdig/articles/2007/07/12/ny_glue_maker_denies_role_in_tunnel_collapse/

Also West System has a short discussion on the flexibility vs stiffness of 
epoxy, asking "What degree of creep ...  is acceptable?"

    http://www.epoxyworks.com/16/pdf/flexible.pdf

Various woodworking sites on the internet have forums of mostly anecdotal 
stuff, too.

It's obvious that the Big Dig people should have built their ceilings with 
laminated oak beams, glued with Resorcinol.
Bob Kirk
Isobar #181


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