Building envelope failure assessment framework for residential communities subjected to hurricanes

This paper presents a modular framework utilized to assess the building envelope failures of light-frame wood construction subjected to hurricane wind hazards. A component-based approach is taken to develop an integrated building envelope model that is based on previous research of individual component capacities. Key modules of the proposed framework include a wind-borne Debris Generation Module and an impact-tracking module that interact with a Hurricane Simulation Module capable of simulating suites of synthetic or historical hurricanes. A significant difference between the proposed framework and other assessment models is that the proposed framework is extremely flexible in allowing the user to define the building stock within the area of interest, which will provide the user with the ability to investigate an unlimited number of “what if” scenarios. Another distinction of the proposed framework is that it is driven by a mechanics-based three-dimensional probabilistic debris trajectory model developed by the authors as opposed to incorporating empirical fragility curves developed from observed post-hurricane assessments, insurance claim data, or basic probabilistic analyses of wind-borne debris. As an illustrative example of results provided by the proposed framework, a debris impact vulnerability envelope presented in a polar coordinate system are developed for a representative South Carolina coastal subdivision subjected to Hurricane Hugo. The probabilities obtained from the debris impact vulnerability envelope generated by the framework can be utilized by officials, developers, architects, and designers either pre- or post-construction to mitigate damage to the building envelope of homes within a residential community located within hurricane-prone regions.