The bolts joined the perimeter columns end-on-end, you see the double access holes? the bolts went vertically from access hole to access hole running vertically parallel with the external aluminium covers. so i don't follow what you are saying. The external aluminum cover would not obstruct access to the bolts.true, but the sheathing would prevent removal of the bolt.
. Each truss connection was welded and bolted.This is a great photograph headspin for it shows just how meager the connections were between the floor and the perimeter columns.
. Each trussed floor (quick estimate) had 240 connections to the perimeter and 180 connections to the inner core.
. Each trussed floor spanned only 28% of the floor space between the north face and the core and between the south face and the core.
. Each trussed floor spanned only 16% of the floor space between the east face and the core and btween the west face and the core.
. Some floors had full structural beams rather than trusses.
. The core floor space was a third of the total floor space.
. The core had welded and bolted structural beams to support the floor space within the core structure.
. The trussed floors did not support the building, the core structure with columns and beams, and the perimeter beams supported the building.
So whilst you may focus on a single connection and suggest "meager", there are other factors to consider, not least is the fact that were 420 of them per trussed floor.
The official story is that the "meager" connections were sufficient to "pull in" the perimeter columns with all the weight they had above them. Not so meager methinks.
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