structural failure
nounEtymology From structure and failure.
1
Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences Loss of the load-carrying capacity of a component or member within a structure or of the structure itself. Structural failure is initiated when the material in a structure is stressed to its strength limit, thus causing fracture or excessive deformations.
- Three buildings in the World Trade Center Complex collapsed due to structural failure on the day of the attack.
- Structural failure will occur in three minutes, 30 seconds.