(Engineering Breakdown using the Israel–Iran Conflict)
When missiles strike cities during war — like in the recent Israel–Iran conflict — we often see buildings collapse within seconds. But what’s really happening inside these structures from an engineering point of view?
Let’s break down what actually happens to a reinforced concrete building when it is hit by a missile — using real examples from the Middle East.
1. Missile Impact – The First Structural Failure
In April 2024, when Iran launched over 300 drones and missiles at Israel, some of them targeted military and urban infrastructure.
- One missile directly hit an apartment complex in Tel Aviv’s outskirts.
- The kinetic energy of the missile — traveling at over Mach 3 — tore through concrete and steel like paper.
Engineering Insight:
Missiles carry thousands of kilograms of force. Upon impact, the load-bearing walls, columns, and slabs fail instantly if not designed for such blasts.
2. Shockwave & Structural Resonance
In many Israeli cities, even buildings that weren’t directly hit experienced internal cracking and joint damage.
Why? The shockwave caused by missile explosions can travel through the ground and air.
- If this wave matches a building’s resonant frequency, the structure vibrates intensely.
- In Iran’s Isfahan airbase, for example, a bunker’s outer layers cracked despite being underground — due to shockwave effects.
Engineers call this a resonant structural response — a hidden but dangerous form of damage.
3. Thermal Damage – Fire After the Blast
After a missile explodes, it releases temperatures above 1000°C.
- In one instance near Jerusalem, a government building caught fire from secondary explosions.
- The reinforced steel rebars inside slabs lost strength because steel softens above 600°C.
Once the internal steel weakens, even a standing wall can collapse under its own weight.
4. Progressive Collapse – Chain Reaction Failure
Once a single beam or column fails from the impact, a chain reaction begins.
- One slab fails → transfers load to others → excessive stress → full structural collapse
In 2025, one of the buildings in Ashkelon, Israel, collapsed 30 seconds after impact — not from the missile directly, but due to progressive collapse.
5. Blast-Resistant Design – The Israeli Approach
Israel, being under frequent threat, has developed strict codes for blast-resistant structures:
- Shelters or “Mamad Rooms” in every apartment
- Reinforced concrete with high ductility
- Steel doors and windows rated for impact and fire
- Many critical infrastructures are even underground (like the Dimona nuclear facility)
Iran, on the other hand, has invested in deep underground missile bases and bunkers, using layered reinforced concrete and rock cover to absorb shock.
Civil Engineers After a Missile Strike
After the June 2025 attack, Israeli engineers were seen inspecting buildings, classifying them as:
- Green: Safe
- Yellow: Partially unsafe (needs retrofitting)
- Red: Demolition required
Civil engineers in war zones are not just builders — they’re first responders in damage assessment, retrofitting, and rebuilding.
Conclusion
The Israel–Iran conflict taught us one thing:
Missile strikes are not just military events — they’re a test of engineering.
From the initial impact, to shockwave transmission, to fire damage, and finally to progressive collapse — each missile reveals how vulnerable or strong a building truly is.
As civil engineers, we must design for more than safety — we must design for survival.
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