Jackman, at that heat, the water would evaporate very rapidly. Even as a cook, I saw plenty of evidence of that. My cooking surfaces often got red or white hot. It takes a substantial amount of water to stop it from heating up quickly. Just think of the cooling systems in engines. If water were really that much of a coolant, we could just pour water on our engines on long road trips. As it is, water cooled engines rely on the intake of water, not just a splash or a filler up. Hence the reason why certain boat motors that have been in fresh water need to be drained at a different temperature than those that have been in salt water when the weather gets cold, to prevent it from cracking.
As for the insulation, my understanding is that it was destroyed on impact. We have to remember that there was not just a fire or just a collision. There was a combination of both. We also have to take into account the amount of heat that would be generated by the collapse. Even bending metal rapidly makes it warm. Friction also causes it to heat up. Therefore, we have steel beams compromised to at least some degree by the impact, then the fire then the collapse itself to account for the structural compromise. As the top floors came down, they also generated plenty of heat and pushed the heat of the fire and its own friction/twisting down.
They were exceptional buildings. However, as is the case with so many things, everything about it was public knowledge. The individuals who took it down knew where to hit it. Being a terrorist does not mean you are stupid.
As for the insulation, my understanding is that it was destroyed on impact. We have to remember that there was not just a fire or just a collision. There was a combination of both. We also have to take into account the amount of heat that would be generated by the collapse. Even bending metal rapidly makes it warm. Friction also causes it to heat up. Therefore, we have steel beams compromised to at least some degree by the impact, then the fire then the collapse itself to account for the structural compromise. As the top floors came down, they also generated plenty of heat and pushed the heat of the fire and its own friction/twisting down.
They were exceptional buildings. However, as is the case with so many things, everything about it was public knowledge. The individuals who took it down knew where to hit it. Being a terrorist does not mean you are stupid.
