April 5, 2006: Demolition Dynamics and the east Pearman cantilever
This story is the work product of a number of surrogate "Franks".
Gary, Mickey, Ken, Sparky and Oscar, our latest recruit from Demolition
Dynamics made this photo-essay possible. My role is to sit here in
Singapore, enjoy a big bowl of something (Chinese, Malay, Indonesian,
Thai, Japanese or Indian) - that costs about $1.50 US - and do all the
cheerleading. The result provides a good insight into we can leverage
the Internet to provide news,
entertainment and learning opportunities by self-recruited people
spread around the world. I am pleased with the results.
One of the advantages of living in Singapore is that I am 12 hours ahead of
Charleston. Consequently I have a sneak preview of what happens before it
happens. (Just now it is 7:53 am April 5 and Charleston is 7:53 pm April 4).
Today another steel section will be dropped.
The worksite - the Mt. Pleasant Pearman cantilever section
Charge placement. Look for the yellow stipes to locate the charges.
If you can remember where these are located, then at the blast time,
you will see the cantilever sections break apart at these locations.
The ironworker acrobats who prepared the site: Dan Segovia, David McCracken
and Oscar Richards (Iron Workers Local 601). Nice view of C-3, drilled
and ready for explosive unbuilding. A bit of backgound.
Demolition
Dynamics does the structural steel explosives while Mickey and
Advanced Blasting Services does the concrete structures. It took me
some time to realize that there were two groups involved. Anyway,
meet some of the DD guys - belatedly for me, but nevertheless, time
to meet another part of the unbuidling team.
(April 6, 7:37 am Singapore time). Oscar just sent me a few photos showing
their team and their tools.
The Demolition Dynamics team: Left to right: Andrew Biewer (DD employee),
Oscar Richards, ace photographer (Union IW local 601) David McCracken (IW),
Steve pettigrew (DD Boss), William Jones (IW), and Stephen Bill
(DD specialist) The rest of the names are Jeff Caudill Demolition Dynamics
SS (Superintendent Specialist) Randy Ryan (DD) Dan Sagovia (IW).
All of the IW's are from Union Local 601 Charleston. A small crew but
as you can see they make a big BLAST!!!!!
David - just sort of chillin' a bit
The tools of their trade - a fuse necklace for Oscar, William and David
David and Oscar - before
How To
Oscar has provided a few photos illustrating some of their setup process.
We shall have more next week
Here William and Andrew are preparing the kevlar that is used to wrap the
explosives after they are placed. Note that in photos of the steel
trusses, little yellow blobs were evident. These blobs are the explosives
wrapped in kevlar. As an interesting note,
Natasha
our banana spider from several years ago creates a
silk that is stronger than kevlar. It would be interesting to see if we
could train a group of
Nephila clavipes (bananna spider) to simply
spin their web around the explosive charges.
Dan and David are reviewing the blueprints indicating the locations of
charge placement
Dan pointing out a starting point
Oscar (our ace photographer) reviewing the blueprints one final time
Note the partial cut on the girder. Here David is preparing to move to his
next position to burn another partial cut
(April 6 2006 Singapore time) -
Our team is working overtime (at least working me overtime - its 1:40 am now)
Gary Eaton caught the initial detonation event - unbelievable timing!
From the video, here is the ignition sequence
t = 0 msec t = 33 msec
t = 67 msec t = 100 msec
t = 133 msec t = 167 msec
t = 200 msec t = 233 msec
t = 267 msec t = 300 msec
t = 333 msec t = 367 msec
t = 400 msec t = 433 msec
t = 467 msec t = 500 msec
t = 533 msec t = 567 msec
These still frames display the sequence from ignition to its-all-over
After the party - happy ironworkers (check out Stan's grin (left))
Here is a very interesting photo of the base of the cantilever section.
Compare the burn marks with the
yellow explosive positions in the photo above.
Also you can see where Mickey and Ken's team have drilled for the
implosion-to-be of C3 (and C4).
A section of the Pearman
The mighty Grace overlooking the lowly Pearman
The ship channel is back with traffic flowing. Sparky took this photo at
9:50 am
After surgical treatment of one of the legs, the jackup barge is back
in position - adjacent to C-4. Maybe for ABS to start loading?
A good view of C4 and C3 and you can see where Mickey has drilled them for
implosion (Jodi - C4 and C3 are east of C2 and C1 :) )
And from afar - nice work by all - The Internet at its best
Returning to the dock, we always passed T-3, which of course is gone. But
in its place is Michael and P-3 and an opportunity to update the progress
on Pain-in-the-neck
Note the position of Michael's cab - reducing the pain in the neck
and Michael's hammer - up close.
Nice touch from Sparky - a ride home in his pick-up under the towers of
the bridge that Wade, Peo, Marvin, Wilbur, Oliver, Phillip, Lewis, Manny
and all the others built.
