Rolled Steel Products, World Trade Center Twin Towers & the USS New York

Another year has passed since the tragedy that occurred September 11, 2001. Many Americans continue to be affected by the events that took place that day, yet life still goes on.

Same goes for the remnants of rolled steel products used in the 1973 construction of the Twin Towers. Following the collapse of the buildings, portions of steel were recovered and presented to the U.S. Navy for construction of a new ship. The steel was used to construct a 7.5 ton portion of the 25,000 ton San Antonio class, amphibious transport dock ship deemed the USS New York. A beating heart is all that is required to understand the significance of why using WTC steel for construction of a United States warship is so powerful.

  

Steel: Powerful in Strength and Symbolism

 After the towers collapsed and the dust finally settled, there is one image that will be remembered forever. Where the majestic towers had once stood so high, there was a “small” section of steel wall that had not fallen. Some believed that the piece of wall still standing was a symbol for standing back up after getting knocked down. This section of steel columns, that formed an outer wall for one of the towers, was more than just a pile of rubble. No matter the interpretation, the fact remains that there were still sections of steel that had held true. Looking back at how the steel was constructed really puts into perspective how much energy was unleashed upon collapsing.

In order to build two skyscrapers 110 stories each; high-strength, load-bearing steel columns had to constructed. Given the task of providing a support structure for both 110-story monstrosities was a perimeter of 60 columns on each side of the buildings. Overall, 40% less structural steel was used than normal buildings. A tube frame design with a steel core that allowed the buildings to be more responsive in the wind contributed to less steel being used.

Each perimeter wall measured 210 feet and was made of prefabricated modular pieces of steel. Modular pieces consisted of 3 steel columns, 3 stories tall. Connecting these different pieces together were 14 inch steel plates made of hot rolled steel. Located on every floor, plate thickness and strength decreased with height due to less building mass to support on higher floors. If recycling steel from one of the worst tragedies on American soil in history wasn’t enough incentive, the strength of the steel would be plenty.

Constructing the USS New York

In 2002, then Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England declared the next San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ship be named “New York”. New York Governor George Pataki played an instrumental role in acquiring 7.5 tons of steel rubble from Ground Zero for the NAVY so the New York could be constructed. Built by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, 7 tons of the steel was used for construction of the bow stem. A bow stem is the foremost portion of a ship that cuts through the water and offers hull integrity. The “motto” of the USS New York is simple, “Never Forget”. That is precisely what every American will do every time the USS New York is mentioned and even more importantly, every September 11th till the end of time.