Risk-Informed Performance-Based Metrics for Evaluating the Structural Safety and Serviceability of Constructed Assets against Natural Disasters

Abstract

The tangible and intangible value derived from the built environment is of great importance. This raises concerns related to the resilience of constructed assets to both human-made and natural disasters. Consideration of these concerns is present in the countless decisions made by various stakeholders during the decades-long life cycle of this type of physical asset. This paper addresses these issues from the standpoint of the engineering aspects that must be managed to enhance the structural safety and serviceability of buildings against natural disasters. It presents risk-informed performance-based parameterization strategies and evaluation criteria as well as design methods to embed differentiated levels of structural safety and serviceability of buildings against wind, snow, earthquakes and other natural agents. The proposed approach enables designers to assure the resilience and reliability of building structures against natural risks.