Title page for ETD etd-11082011-122841

Type of Document

Master's Thesis

Author

Herbin, Alexander Henry

URN

etd-11082011-122841

Title

Fragility Analysis of Building Envelope Components Subject to Windborne Debris Impact Hazard

Degree

Master of Science in Civil Engineering (M.S.C.E.)

Department

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Advisory Committee

Advisor Name	Title
Barbato, Michele	Committee Chair
Cai, Steve	Committee Member
Okeil, Ayman	Committee Member

Keywords

Windborne Debris
Performance-Based Engineering
Finite Element Method
Fragility Curves
Building Envelope Components

Date of Defense

2011-10-31

Availability

unrestricted

Abstract

This thesis presents a methodology for developing windborne debris (WBD) impact fragility curves for building envelope components (BECs) by using stochastic finite element (FE) models. These fragility curves provide the probabilistic description of the impact resistance of BECs subject to an impact event described by an appropriate intensity measure (IM). Accurate fragility curves are essential in the development of a general probabilistic performance-based engineering framework for mitigation of WBD impact hazard.

Monte Carlo simulation is used in combination with the FE method to propagate uncertainties in the BEC’s model parameters and WBD impact location. As an application example, the fragility curves relative to different damage measures are derived for aluminum storm shutters subjected to WBD impact. It is found that (1) the missile kinetic energy at impact is a sufficient IM for BECs with ductile behavior subjected to WBD impact, and (2) the performance of storm panels in terms of penetration of WBDs is critically dependent on the details of the panels’ installation.

Files

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