Was it all happening at the core?

[Patrick Brown]

Just been using the noodle and I really do think that the vast majority of the explosives i.e. thermite and RDX were on the core columns. I was arguing against the idea of the power of kinetic energy on a recent thread here and I did find myself agreeing with the idea that a lot of potential energy was being released as the towers fell.

The idea that all the external columns were cut with charges doesn't sound practical. I've already suggested that only a couple of floors had external columns weakened. There was certainly something very similar to a thermite reaction going on here:


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I think any explosive devices other than thermite (on a just the few floors) would have been to noticeable.

In this next clip we see external columns bowing inwards seconds before the collapse:


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There is footage which shows the radio tower falling before the north tower collapses (the second collapse) so the core is again the weak link!

It's important to remember the floors were only covered with 4” of concrete so when taking into account the kinetic energy of the above floors it would be expected for the concrete to be turned to dust.

Also there would have been intense explosive pressure from the RDX (shape charges) although I believe this more practically explains the arching debris.

As for the aircrafts origin of impact I think this may have been possible with the aid of homing devices which were placed in the towers at the appropriate floor, this technology is as simple as GPS.

[Patrick Brown]

More analysis here: http://www.nineeleven.co.uk/board/viewtopic.php?p=33207#33207

[Fallious]

The timeline of actual collapse, including initiation of collapse, is quite clear to me. Given the various features of the collapse, it's relatively simple to establish a 'best case scenario' which would enable the demolition of WTC 1 & 2 in a simple and (moderately) believable manner - and it's all about the core columns.

1. The underground bulk mass, the concrete walls and floors, were weakened and in some cases destroyed by conventional explosives in the basement.

This is supported by the eye/ear witness reports of explosions and video of damage in the basement and ground floor some time before collapse.

2. As fires begin to subside, huge quantities of thermate based cutting or explosives charges were pulled in the basement; these were responsible for breaking the core columns below ground, thus removing all support from the core framework.

This results in the total loss of the core support to the towers, it even acts as a weight, pulling the roof mast, and indeed the upper section of the towers (above the plane damage) into itself, initiating the pancake collapse that we see as characteristic in the first instance of both towers falling.

3. At this point, conventional explosives inside the central shaft begin to blow, vaporising the initial pancaked mass outward and then working their way down the building.

The exo columns are sent flying hundreds of meters outward, embedding themselves in nearby buildings. The tower structure is levelled at free-fall speed, with no resistance, in an exactly symmetrical collapse.

This rings true with me for a few reasons.

- No need for the demolition team to be working in public areas, basement and shaft access is all that's required.
- It's quick to rig; no charges on external columns.
- It produces the initial pancake, without any visible foul play, and so makes the proceeding total collapse more believable.

There is evidence to suggest there are thermate charges inside the upper floors of the towers; the molten metal and small squibs. It's quite probable that thermate charges were used to break the core columns apart once the collapse had begun, before the vaporising demolition charges worked their way down the towers.

Ironic that the commission chose to ignore the core columns completely... I guess that's because during the collapse they may as well have never been there.

[Patrick Brown]

Good response Fallious I've been speculating about the thermite seen dripping from the south tower:


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I did think it was being used on the external columns around the impacted floors although maybe that's just complicating the issue. I'd be interested to hear any ideas you might have to explain the dripping metal which does seem to be steel.