The vulnerability of structures to unforeseen events

  • Authors:
  • Juan England;Jitendra Agarwal;David Blockley

  • Affiliations:
  • Willis Research Network, Ten Trinity Square, London EC3P 3AX, United Kingdom;Department of Civil Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TR, United Kingdom;Department of Civil Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TR, United Kingdom

  • Venue:
  • Computers and Structures
  • Year:
  • 2008

Quantified Score

Hi-index 0.01

Visualization

Abstract

A structure is vulnerable to an unforeseen event if it is not sufficiently robust. One insight into the lack of robustness is gained through the vulnerability of a structure to disproportionate collapse. In this paper, the importance of assessing the vulnerability of a structure to unforeseen events is highlighted and the nature of unforeseen events examined. A theory of structural vulnerability which examines the form of the structure to determine the most vulnerable sequence of failure events is briefly described. The potential for damage to propagate through a structure is examined through a new measure of hazard potential and vertical pushover analysis. An analysis of an example structure shows that such an approach is able to capture the weaknesses in a structure either due to form or external actions.