Performance-Based Hurricane Engineering (PBHE) framework

This paper presents an innovative fully-probabilistic Performance-Based Hurricane Engineering (PBHE) framework for risk assessment of structural systems located in hurricane-prone regions. The proposed methodology is based on the total probability theorem and disaggregates the risk assessment into elementary components, namely hazard analysis, structural characterization, environment–structure interaction analysis, structural analysis, damage analysis, and loss analysis. This methodology accounts for the multi-hazard nature of hurricane events by considering both the separate effects of and the interaction among hurricane wind, flood, windborne debris, and rainfall hazards. A discussion on the different sources of hazard is provided, and vectors of intensity measures for hazard analyses are proposed. Suggestions on the selection of appropriate parameters describing the interaction between the environmental actions and the structure, the structural response, and the resulting damage are also provided. The proposed PBHE framework is illustrated through an application example consisting of the performance assessment of a residential building subjected to windborne debris and hurricane strong winds. The PBHE framework introduced in this paper represents a step toward a rational methodology for probabilistic risk assessment and design of structures subjected to multi-hazard scenarios.