FMRC Structures Research Area targets building collapse
The Structures Research Area of Factory Mutual Research Corporation (FMRC), launched in Fall 1997, is focusing on assessing structural reliability under loads from fires and natural hazards at scientific and advanced engineering levels. The Research Area Group–Dr. Paul Senseny, area director, and Dr. Hosam Ali and Dr. Praveen Malhotra, both senior research scientists–will oversee four long-range programs designed to assess structural reliability.
Among the problems the FMRC will focus on, according to Senseny, are the impact of flooding on buildings; the effects of hail and wind on window glazing, skylights, and some roofing materials; the effects of earthquakes on nonstructural elements such as sprinkler systems and other piping; the magnitude and distribution of windstorm forces on structures; and the response of structures (walls especially) to dust and vapor-cloud explosions as well as other more powerful types of explosions often seen as a result of terrorist activity.
Four long-range Structures programs have been planned. Their goals are as follow:
Dynamics of Structures. Ongoing since 1997, this four-segment program has as its goals analysis of deformation and damage under a variety of dynamic loads; methods for simulating structural response; failure modes; damage levels; and mitigation techniques. The “Structural Analysis” component will continue through 2000. The “HAZUS” (“Hazards in the United States”) component involves developing a computer program for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to predict damage from natural hazards.
Loads on Structures. To estimate the loads the structure must resist and the interaction of the loading environment and the structural component.
Loading Environments. To evaluate the large-scale event leading to loading a structure, the probability that a large-scale event of a certain size will occur, and the spatial and temporal variation of the environment.
Regional Impact. To examine the magnitude of the damage caused by a particular event and the damage potential for each structure class.
Ultimately, it is anticipated that this research will be reflected in loss prevention guidelines validated by comprehensive scientific research and testing. n
