COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 25 
NINN Ua 
Le | 
= 
SAV NSINNISSISISISE Ss 
=a 
| 
i 
[REPAIRS 
lest during 
1. 1. Ropaired by installetion 
towing to site - July 57 
of collar cemeotion 
Sep-Ost 57 (By Navy) 
A 
e 
Collar vertical bolts 
ef collar vertical shear | Seplaced - Started 
bolta - 1 Ost 58 —coe= TS | Nov 58 completed Hay 59 
Sy BE 
a TS on J 
WW 
LBA : 
3. Divers reported alack in aa RR > 13. °X® bracing system 
SS | installed te repair 
lesse pin cendition by 
reinforcing structure ~ 
Started May 60 
Ms 
AEX S IOV EAU NIN 
HISTORY QF DAMAGES AND REPAIAS 
@NOV.5% To \I2 sep 6a 
The design engineers issued another warning concerning the struc- 
tural integrity of the tower and the safety of personnel on board. In 
his letter of April 1, 1960, Mr. Kuss stated as follows: 
The loose pin connections are a very serious matter since there seems to be 
no way of satisfactorily remedying the condition. Furthermore, the condition 
is one which will tend to worsen at an increasing rate with time. This is be- 
cause the looseness induces impact stresses in the pins and pin plates which are 
greater than for the nondynamic design assumptions and will become increas- 
ingly greater as the play in the joint enlarges. 
* * * We have concluded that the only practical cure for the situation is the 
addition of new abovewater braces which we have advocated and designed. 
x * = Time is of the essence in the program for erecting new braces. The 
hurricane season has been pretty well established as beginning after the first 
week of August and the schedule for construction to be reasonably sure of ac- 
complishment should be essentially complete by that time. 
Capt. Thomas J. White (CEC), USN, the district public works 
officer of the First Naval District, had received a copy of the tele- 
gram from the Air Force personnel at Otis Air Force Base and had 
discussed with a Colonel Cipolla of the Air Force the motion difficul- 
ties being experienced at tower No. 4. The Bureau of Yards and 
Docks within his naval district had passed on the design and con- 
