A physical approach on flood risk vulnerability of buildings

Abstract

Abstract. The design of efficient hydrological risk mitigation strategies and their subsequent implementation relies on a careful vulnerability analysis of the elements exposed. Recently, extensive research efforts were undertaken to develop and refine empirical relationships linking the structural vulnerability of buildings to the impact forces of the hazard processes. These empirical vulnerability functions allow estimating the expected direct losses as a result of the hazard scenario based on spatially explicit representation of the process patterns and the elements at risk classified into defined typological categories. However, due to the underlying empiricism of such vulnerability functions, the physics of the damage generating mechanisms for a well-defined element at risk with its peculiar geometry and structural characteristics remain unveiled, and, as such, the applicability of the empirical approach for planning hazard-proof residential buildings is limited. Therefore, we propose a conceptual assessment scheme to close this gap. This assessment scheme encompasses distinct analytical steps: modelling (a) the process intensity, (b) the impact on the element at risk exposed and (c) the physical response of the building envelope. Furthermore, these results provide the input data for the subsequent damage evaluation and economic damage valuation. This dynamic assessment supports all relevant planning activities with respect to a minimisation of losses, and can be implemented in the operational risk assessment procedure.

Vulnerability to Flash Floods: A Simplified Structural Model for Masonry Buildings

“…However, the interactions between elements at risk and the hazard processes have been largely ignored. Consequently, the necessary information for operational hazard and risk mitigation has not been adequately defined (Mazzorana et al, ; Mazzorana et al, ; Papathoma‐Köhle et al, ).…”

Probabilistic assessment of structural damage from coupled multi-hazards

“…[6,23,24]), windstorms via the velocity of the wind (e.g. [14]), and mudflows via the density and depth of the flow [29]. Some examples are summarised in Table 1 adapted from [21,31].…”

Dinâmica De Inundação Em Áreas Úmidas Costeiras: Zona Urbana De Macapá E Santana, Costa Amazônica, Amapá

“…Capacidade essa, intrinsecamente associada com uso de geotecnologias e integração entre as várias ciências e técnicas para dar as respostas necessárias para uso mais adequado do território. Mazzorana et al (2014) estabelecem os procedimentos básicos para determinar consistentemente as ameaças de inundação e os cenários de riscos. Dentre os principais passos, é necessária uma abordagem geomorfológica baseada na combinação de reconhecimento da morfologia dos vales, bacias de drenagem e, confinamento dos canais, por exemplo.…”