Author Topic: Sinkhole Collapses Part of Corvette Museum in Ky. (Read 13859 times)

Camo · « **on:** February 13, 2014, 07:47:11 AM »

If you have been thinking of going to the US to see the Corvette Museum in Ky, better go now before it disappears

Click Image to read more

Miss Independent · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2014, 08:27:28 AM »

Thats amazing. I remember standing in that hall 2 years ago and seeing all those cars mentioned . Looks like two of them might be salvageable.

Miss Independent · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2014, 08:39:31 AM »

Sinkhole Collapses in Skydome
The National Corvette Museum will operate normal business hours tomorrow, Thursday, February 13 from 8:00 am- 5:00 pm CT. The Skydome, however, will be blocked off.
We received a call at 5:44am from our security company alerting us of our motion detectors going off in our Skydome area of the Museum. Upon arrival it was discovered that a sinkhole had collapsed within the Museum. No one was in or around the Museum at the time. The Bowling Green Fire Department arrived on the scene and secured the area. The Fire Department has estimated the size of the hole is 40 feet across and 25-30 feet deep.
http://corvettemuseum.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/sinkhole-collapses-at-national-corvette.html

https://plus.google.com/photos/104141664400556036641/albums/5979568634002499569?banner=pwa
For high-res images click here

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5Syfif2eF-PwKw8EkYQ3hW12km1LzacC

For video of the Sinkhole, including survelliance footage click here.
These photos and video are available for use by Media with credit to the National Corvette Museum.

Camo · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2014, 09:55:57 AM »

Thanks to Autoblog reader Arnold A. and the folks at Jalopnik, we've got some choice screencaps of the action in autoblog's gallery HERE.

Also we now have many more images and new videos of the sinkhole, including security camera footage showing when the sinkhole formed and R/C helicopter footage of the aftermath. Check it all out HERE.

MY081 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2014, 05:38:18 PM »

Am i missing something or is there a big absence of reo in that floor !!!!!!

Lefty · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2014, 06:10:28 PM »

Not a strauctural engineer, but it's most likely not the absence of rep which caused such a dramatics failure, it the absence of solid material under the floor. Time to check the garage.

Lefty

69VETTE · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2014, 06:52:39 PM »

Quote from: MY081 on February 13, 2014, 05:38:18 PM

Am i missing something or is there a big absence of reo in that floor !!!!!!

Hey Ray, its hard to tell from these photos, but the slab in question would most likely only have one layer of either F82 mesh or F92 mesh... cause its a slab on ground and most likely not structural, like what you would normally see in a suspended slab say to a first floor or above. What amazes me is that the buildings engineer should have undertaken a geo tech report before designing the slab. This kind of failure is not random (tho i have my suspicions.. see link below) and it would have been common knowledge in the local area if subsidence in the land around there was a normal thing.

In Australia we have the Building code of Australia and AS2870 which stipulates that on a controlled fill (ie material of like compactness and not building rubble of rubbish) you only have to provide one layer of F82 inside for a floating slab..

Like i said, I have my suspicions and say from my research that it was generally related, or the result of something the NSA of the FDA is up to.. don't believe me.. well do your research... nevertheless its a friken shame that those cars were destroyed !

Here is a link of what you can find if your really interested in whats happening in the states right now... and i'm not talking about the economy or marshal law !!!

86er · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2014, 08:06:22 PM »

Unbelievable, yeah Ray no reo.
There's more reo in a standard basic driveway

coradict72 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2014, 09:13:08 PM »

seems someone will some explaining to do no piers and steel bars I'd be bit nervous with the rest of the structure even a visit lol.
By the way according to local news.there lies a
93 zr1 on loan
2009 zr1 on loan
62 museum owned
84 "" "
92 1millionth car " "
93 40th anniversary " "
01 Z06 " "
09 1.5 millionth car " "

I trust there would be hardly any miles on most of these corvettes..terrible situation

gtc · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2014, 09:34:59 PM »

Seems from various US accounts that the region is well known for its sink holes, so it makes you wonder what sort of local building code applies.

I hope they're adequately insured, especially for those "on loan" vehicles.

69VETTE · « **Reply #10 on:** February 14, 2014, 08:07:58 AM »

Quote from: gtc on February 13, 2014, 09:34:59 PM

Seems from various US accounts that the region is well known for its sink holes, so it makes you wonder what sort of local building code applies.

I hope they're adequately insured, especially for those "on loan" vehicles.

Thank You Gtc... just what i said !!... stupid engineer probably didnt even get a geo tech report !!!

MY081 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2014, 08:35:32 AM »

Remember this is ameria ( buyer be were enter at own risk etc ) I was in the states whatching block layers 3 stores up working on 2 planks 1 for blocks 1 to stand on . They put mesh in residental but there is nothing in that floor in bowlingreen , no piers no beams . Nothing

Scott · « **Reply #12 on:** February 14, 2014, 08:53:04 AM »

I believe many places in the US suffer from the same issue as Ipswich near Brissie. Old and abandoned, unmarked underground coal mines that run every which way. The tunnels may be conveying groundwater or collapse and slowly eat their way to the top. No geotech report will show that.

Also, reo is only put into ground slabs for crack control, not structural support. The concrete has probablt been supporting itself over the hole for a while, but eventially as it grew larger and larger (and was weighed down with 6 cars) it eventually gave way.

Realistically the only irreplacable car is No. 1 million and to a lesser degree No. 1.5 million. The others were special models, but were not a one of a kind.

Jethro · « **Reply #13 on:** February 14, 2014, 09:47:45 PM »

Quote from: Camo on February 13, 2014, 09:55:57 AM

Thanks to Autoblog reader Arnold A. and the folks at Jalopnik, we've got some choice screencaps of the action in autoblog's gallery HERE.

Also we now have many more images and new videos of the sinkhole, including security camera footage showing when the sinkhole formed and R/C helicopter footage of the aftermath. Check it all out HERE.

I reckon we should send CammO and he's Bro over with there Helicopter ..... then we'd get some decent footage

69VETTE · « **Reply #14 on:** February 16, 2014, 03:50:50 PM »

Some Great news...

Following yesterday’s report of a massive sinkhole opening up under a section of the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Chevrolet has announced they will assist with the restoration of the damaged vehicles.

http://www.justauto.com.au/justcars/know/news/eca49975-982c-44b6-9e5a-2b90db3ad572

gtc · « **Reply #15 on:** February 16, 2014, 04:38:22 PM »

Good to hear.

bfit · « **Reply #16 on:** February 16, 2014, 04:45:53 PM »

Quote from: Camo on February 13, 2014, 07:47:11 AM

If you have been thinking of going to the US to see the Corvette Museum in Ky, better go now before it disappears

Click Image to read more

This is a Photographic metaphor of the American economy
I'm waiting for Sh_t to happen
Bfit

Jethro · « **Reply #17 on:** February 16, 2014, 06:15:50 PM »

Quote from: Bfit on February 16, 2014, 04:45:53 PM

This is a Photographic metaphor of the American economy
I'm waiting for Sh_t to happen
Bfit

Don't worry Bro I rung em today and spoke to the director.... he said it'll be right by the time we (NSW Corvettes) get there next year

69VETTE · « **Reply #18 on:** February 17, 2014, 07:23:40 AM »

Yep.. theres definitley no reinforcement in that slab.. here is some footage on the net.....

69VETTE · « **Reply #19 on:** March 04, 2014, 06:42:08 AM »

2009 "Blue Devil" ZR1 Emerges Nearly Unscathed

Crowds of construction personnel, media, Museum visitors and staff cheered as the first Corvette, the 2009 "Blue Devil" ZR1 emerged from the depths of the sinkhole this morning at approximately 10:35am CT. The process was streamed live on two of the Museum's web cams with thousands of viewers tuning in all over the world.

"It's wonderful... just seven more to go," said Mike Murphy, construction manager for the project.

Even more cheers erupted when the car cranked up after only a few tries, and even drove about 20 feet to the doorway of the Skydome.

"That's a GM product for you. They take a licking and keep on ticking!" added Murphy.

The crews have been working six days a week since the sinkhole incident that swallowed eight Corvettes in the National Corvette Museum's Skydome exhibit area. This past Saturday, the crews rigged up the ZR1 and did a few test lifts. John Spencer, Manufacturing Integration Manager at the GM Corvette Assembly Plant, helped consult the team on the best points to strap up the car. "With Mike, worker safety is number one. There are no compromises," said Spencer.

"I was worried about the wheels," said Murphy. "This morning we took so long because we wanted to add some secondary straps in case the wheels pulled. It was just a little more insurance."

Murphy added that with this project, nothing is set in stone on how to do it. "It's been a huge relief. It went better than expected," he said.

After the elation of the first car being rescued and even cranking up, the Museum staff were excited to put the car back on display in the Museum's Exhibit Hall. "It's incredible to have the car back on display again. It's what we've been hoping for," said Bob Hellmann, Facilities and Displays Manager. "Now we just want to get the next seven, restore the cars, and get them all back on display."

The Museum plans on displaying the cars as they are recovered, now through August 3. In addition, this Spring they plan to create a special display with information on the sinkhole incident, sinkholes and karst background details, videos, photos and more.

After taking a lunch break, the crew will resume the car retrieval process - with the 1993 "Ruby Red" 40th Anniversary Corvette slated for recovery Monday afternoon. The 1962 Black Corvette is planned to be retrieved on Tuesday, but will be much trickier as a five ton slab of concrete is partially resting on the front of the car. Two cranes will be used to simultaneously lift the car and the concrete.

Links to photos, videos and press releases are available on the Museum's website at www.corvettemuseum.org. For the latest updates visit the Museum’s Facebook Fan page at www.facebook.com/corvettemuseum.

-#-

High resolution photos of the car recovery are available on the Museum's Smug Mug account at: http://corvettemuseum.smugmug.com/Events/Sinkhole

Videos will be posted as they are available on the Museum's You Tube here.