We shall follow the Scientific Method. It will terminate at the hypothesis stage with possible Method. Nobody will fund this because the SM always challenges power structures based on belief.
Hypothesis:
All building collapse is caused by fatigue due to live loads or previous major loading events. As the building softens, it accumulates more fatigue.
Definitions and Assumptions
We are following all known physics laws. Fatigue is something that can be experienced by all materials. Basically, any material can be loaded to a point beyond elasticity. As long as a material is elastic, it is only stretching atomic bonds, and can be loaded in this manner forever. Think of your grandfather's hammer that was only used for cracking nuts.
Once the material is loaded into the fatigue zone, there are irreversible changes, such as micro-cracks or crystal boundary shifts. The material can be loaded for thousands of cycles, but once it is cracked through and through, it fails catastrophically.
Concrete has the added complication of ageing. Aggregate can slowly react. Salt can come out of the stones, etc. We had dams that expanded excessively, and had to wire-saw them. This usually does not affect the overall strength, but it is a factor.
Method
The hypothesis has been formulated in such a manner that it can be tested and failed. This is unlike most philosophical tenets of the 'Philosophy Science' followers.
You cannot go to the material after collapse, since it has been shattered. You do not have a record of the progression of fatigue. There is some good physics that can be done, but that requires funds from people who have an interest in remaining ignorant. It's best to say that it is all 'God's Work' or 'Climate Change', which are equivalent.
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