How can you use structural design principles to minimize the risk of natural disaster damage?

1 Earthquake-resistant design

Earthquakes can generate powerful ground motions that can damage or collapse structures if they are not designed to withstand them. To prevent this, earthquake-resistant design principles can be implemented in order to reduce seismic forces and increase the ductility of the structures. These principles involve using a simple and regular geometry that avoids irregularities and discontinuities, providing adequate lateral strength and stiffness to resist horizontal forces, incorporating seismic isolation or damping devices to reduce energy transfer from the ground to the structure, and applying capacity design methods that ensure structural elements yield in a controlled and predictable manner. All these principles will help avoid brittle failure and progressive collapse.

2 Flood-proof design

Floods can cause water damage, erosion, and scouring to structures that are exposed to high water levels and velocities. To protect your structures from floods, you can employ flood-proof design principles that are designed to prevent water ingress and reduce hydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces. Some of these principles include elevating the structures above the expected flood level or providing adequate freeboard to avoid submergence and buoyancy effects, using waterproof materials and finishes that can resist water penetration and corrosion, installing flood barriers or vents that can block or release the water pressure and prevent structural damage or collapse, as well as designing the foundations and substructures to resist the scouring and undermining effects of the water flow and soil erosion.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?