One wall to an 8m deep basement in Nicosia city centre collapsed, causing the adjacent building's garage and garden to fall into the excavation. An expert forensic investigation was needed to identify the cause for insurance and legal purposes.

An expert study of site investigation reports, designs, construction records, photographs and witness accounts was undertaken. The case was back-analysed by finite element analysis (FEA) to identify the probable cause of the collapse.

Highlights

• Gathering of all communications, records, reports, designs, etc. concerning the project.

• Interviews with the interested parties.

• Study of the collected information.

• Simulation of construction events by geotechnical FEA.

• Identification of cause and submission of technical report.

Want to read about another forensic investigation that involved the use of FEA? Check out this study.