One form of structural collapse is termed pancaking or pancake collapse.
Synonym: progressive collapse, disproportionate collapse
Elements:
(1) supported structure, often flat or relatively flat and relatively heavy
(2) supporting load-bearing elements, usually columns or posts
(3) earthquake, blast, fire or other stimulus
In a pancake collapse, some stimulus causes the load-bearing elements to fail and the supported structure falls flat on anything below, often in few seconds.
Examples:
(1) tiled roofs in Kobe following the earthquake
(2) collapse of elevated roadways in California
(3) floors of a building fall down on floors below following a fire or explosion
Consequences:
(1) crush injury
(2) entrapment
(3) falling away of a roadway creating a sudden drop for traffic
