Quote:
'Peter Yanev, one of the world's best-known consultants on designing
nuclear plants to withstand earthquakes, said the seawalls at the
Japanese plants probably could not handle tsunami waves of the height
that struck them. And the diesel generators were situated in a low spot
on the assumption that the walls were high enough to protect against any
likely tsunami.
That turned out to be a fatal miscalculation. The tsunami walls
either should have been built higher, or the generators should have been
placed on higher ground to withstand potential flooding, he said.
Increasing the height of tsunami walls, he said, is the obvious answer
in the immediate term'.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11073/1131917-82.stm#ixzz1GmkDVTaD
> Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:07:46 -0400
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Why the design profession wouldn't have avoided the Japanese nuclear crisis
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> When we are involved in the project delivery for complex facilities, programming/planning is key for specifying product attributes. Considering the complexity of nuclear facilities, it is prudent to invest in extensive work at the pre-design phases.
>
> The whole situation has emerged mostly because at the programming/planning phase the threat of a very high tsunami was not considered seriously. It is quite astonishing, keeping in mind that in Japanese history and folklore there are vivid images of tsunami waves much higher than the present one. With my sporadic knowledge about Japanese tsunami disasters, I would have taken precautions for a 100 feet high wave. Practically speaking, the power plant should have been designed as a nuclear-powered ship.
>
> I would not blame the engineers. This is not a design error, but a programming/planning error. The specifications/problems/requirements were not defined correctly. A good engineer may or may not be a good programmer. Programming requires different skills that the typical design skills.
>
> This is a good case for empowering the emergence of an autonomous programming profession separate from core design. Programmers will have a more focused program of study and more experience with the specification of product attributes, qualities, and requirements.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Lubomir
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