A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Investigation of Hurricane Damage to a Condominium Building in Florida
This paper presents the findings of an investigation of damage to a 12-story condominium building subjected to hurricane-force winds in south Florida during the passage of Hurricane Wilma. The building's structural system consists of reinforced concrete columns and flat slabs, with concrete masonry unit (CMU) infill walls at the building's perimeter. Most of the building's balconies were enclosed by aluminum-framed windows that were added subsequent to original construction. An investigation of hurricane damage to the building revealed that many of the sliding glass doors, including those protected by enclosed balconies, sustained damage either due to direct exposure to the extreme wind pressures after the windows were damaged and blown off, or due to buffeting of the balcony windows which transmitted vibrations through the balcony floor and ceiling slabs, which in turn subjected the sliding glass doors to wind-induced vibrations. This combined action coupled with the movement of the building during the hurricane compromised the enclosed sliding glass doors. The unreinforced concrete railing walls sustained damage in the form of cracking and spalled cement plaster due to direct exposure to the strong hurricane-force winds and the buffeting of the balcony windows to which the railing walls are attached. Wind pressures and movement of the building also caused separation cracks between the unreinforced CMU infill walls and the floor slabs. Structural engineering calculations showed that the wind speeds at the site during the hurricane were strong enough to cause the observed cracking in the unreinforced concrete railing walls and CMU infill walls. In addition to the obvious damage to the roof, doors and windows, this paper describes in detail the more subtle damages sustained by the building's structural and non-structural components and associated water damage.
Investigation of Hurricane Damage to a Condominium Building in Florida
This paper presents the findings of an investigation of damage to a 12-story condominium building subjected to hurricane-force winds in south Florida during the passage of Hurricane Wilma. The building's structural system consists of reinforced concrete columns and flat slabs, with concrete masonry unit (CMU) infill walls at the building's perimeter. Most of the building's balconies were enclosed by aluminum-framed windows that were added subsequent to original construction. An investigation of hurricane damage to the building revealed that many of the sliding glass doors, including those protected by enclosed balconies, sustained damage either due to direct exposure to the extreme wind pressures after the windows were damaged and blown off, or due to buffeting of the balcony windows which transmitted vibrations through the balcony floor and ceiling slabs, which in turn subjected the sliding glass doors to wind-induced vibrations. This combined action coupled with the movement of the building during the hurricane compromised the enclosed sliding glass doors. The unreinforced concrete railing walls sustained damage in the form of cracking and spalled cement plaster due to direct exposure to the strong hurricane-force winds and the buffeting of the balcony windows to which the railing walls are attached. Wind pressures and movement of the building also caused separation cracks between the unreinforced CMU infill walls and the floor slabs. Structural engineering calculations showed that the wind speeds at the site during the hurricane were strong enough to cause the observed cracking in the unreinforced concrete railing walls and CMU infill walls. In addition to the obvious damage to the roof, doors and windows, this paper describes in detail the more subtle damages sustained by the building's structural and non-structural components and associated water damage.
Investigation of Hurricane Damage to a Condominium Building in Florida
Jain, Anurag (author) / Simsir, Can C. (author)
Sixth Congress on Forensic Engineering ; 2012 ; San Francisco, California, United States
Forensic Engineering 2012 ; 811-820
2012-11-13
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
Investigation of Damage to a Masonry Condominium Building from the 1994 Northridge Earthquake
| British Library Conference Proceedings | 2007