Building performance in Cyclones

David Henderson Cyclone Testing Station, James Cook University

Wind loading
Historical poor performance of houses Seminal change in house design criteria Building Code of Australia and Standards Building failures during wind storms

Tropical Cyclone Yasi

Estimate wind speeds Damage survey Wind damage Performance of older housing Storm surge damage to housing Recommendations

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Darwin - Cyclone Tracy

Peak gust estimated 70 m/s (250 km/h Cat 4 event) Over 70% of houses suffered severe damage Some suburbs; 90% of houses destroyed In comparison, engineered structures performed well

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Why Houses common but complex

Traditional process evolved from holding roof up not tying it down Many elements, closely spaced There is load sharing So no easily defined Load path They are where we shelter so have to be secure
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Late 70s - New building regulations

For the housing industry Regulations took the form of deemed to comply solutions Nominate member sizes and joint details But based on simple analysis and testing of elements

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Need to know Are they going to be safe?

The later question asked was Are they too safe? (i.e. too expensive)

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We do this by:
Wind tunnel tests Loading various building products from screws right up to whole houses Damage investigations Vulnerability models

2.0 x Pd

Pd

TR440 (1170.2) for Qld and WA

Load Cycles

10200

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Wind load distribution

Wind
Large suction at windward edge Suction pressure on roof

Positive pressure on wall

Suction pressure on lee wall

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(real) Wind load distribution

Pressure tap measurements at approx 400 locations on the roof of the UWO gable roofed test house.

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Wind load distribution

Wind
Large suction at windward edge Suction pressure on roof

Positive pressure on wall

Internal positive pressures acting in concert with external forces

Suction pressure on lee wall

Housing design standard AS4055 requires for cyclonic regions C and D, that a dominant opening is assumed in the design.

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The Stations work, along with people from CSIRO, Industry research labs and other Universities have all resulted in a Wealth of Standards and guides for designing and building houses to resist wind loads
Australian Building Standards: AS1170.2 Wind loads AS4055 Wind loads on housing AS1562.1 Design and installation of metal cladding HB132 Handbook on retrofitting older housing AS1684 Timber Framing (and lots more)

Manufacturer Literature: Lots of Design Manuals for framing, block work, roofing, windows, etc

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Building Code of Australia: Structural objectives

Safeguard people from injury caused by structural failure, Safeguard people from loss of amenity caused by structural behaviour, Protect other property from physical damage caused by structural failure, and Safeguard people from injury that may be caused by failure of, or impact with, glazing.

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Cyclone track Spaghetti diagram

BCA: Class 2 Importance level (house?) 1:500 Annual probability of exceedence or 10% in 50 yrs prob of exceedence
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AS1170.2-2002 Wind load standard

69 m/s (250 km/h) 87 m/s (300 km/h)

57 m/s 45 m/s

13/35

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Cyclone Larry domestic construction

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Thunderstorm Northern NSW

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Why failures?
Are our design standards appropriate? Was the design criteria (wind speed) exceeded? Correct implementation of design criteria? Appropriate materials?

Adequate construction quality?

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Cyclone Yasi effects on Buildings

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Tropical Cyclone Categories

(Not the same as the Saffir-Simpson scale used in North America)

Cyclone Category 1 2 3 4 5

Gust Wind Speed

(10 m height in open terrain)

< 125 km/h 125 170 km/h 170 225 km/h 225 280 km/h > 280 km/h

< 35 m/s 35 - 47 m/s 47 - 63 m/s 63 - 78 m/s > 78 m/s

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www.jcu.edu.au/cts

Recording wind speeds in Tropical cyclones

1 5 G r e e n I s

Wind speed estimated from numerical models, street sign data and the occasional Anemometer

C a

a i

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s A a i

A M r

P O n s

5 2

B 0 3 M i r r i w

F 5 3 I n n i s f a i l E M S o u t h J o h o n u s r t i o l n y e a n

t M

t o

y u r

B i

a l

y y a n H a r b o u r

0 4 C o w l e y B e a c h

K 5 4 0 M i s s i o n 0 5 T u l l B 5 a0 c h 0 5 5 2 5 1 30 2 4 1 5 3 y e 4 E l A r i s h B C i

n l u

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i p

l P

B o

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0 2

W o S o

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i M i

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0 0 5 5 5 6 5 6

0 7 5 7

L 3 5 A I M S O R P H E U S

3 0

TC Yasi Double Holland Wind Model by Bruce Harper (GHD/SEA) Using AWS-calibrated parameters supplied by Lou Mason (UTAS/AMC) All winds are over-water without any terrain or topographic effects.
2 5 2 0

2 0

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T o w n s l e

A M O v i l

Estimated wind speeds

Max gust speed estimated at 240 km/h (Design wind speed houses 250 km/h) Max gust ~95% design speed Cardwell, Tully Heads, South Mission Beach Max gust ~85% design speed Tully, Kurrimine Beach

Cat 4 wind speeds (mainland)

Potential for complacency in community and industry

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Street Survey - Three category Damage Index

No
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 None

Roof (R)
none Gutters downpipes Debris damage to roof lifted < 10% lost roofing < 50% lost battens < 50% lost battens > 50%

Openings (O)
none debris not pierced debris pierced windows/doors leaked Windward broken < 30% frames lost < 30% Windward broken 30%-70%

Walls (W)
debris not pierced debris pierced Carport /verandah damage One wall panel fallen > 1 wall panels fallen racking damage, cladding attached racking damage and lost cladding

lost battens > 50% and lifted Windward broken > 70% rafters lost battens > 50% and damaged tie-down lost roof structure > 50% including ceiling

Windward broken > 70% and suction only small rooms intact loss 100% broken / missing no walls remaining

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Damage Data
Post 80s (current construction) <3% major roof damage ~30% all roller doors damaged But many houses had water ingress

Pre 80s (older housing) >12% major roof damage ~2% damaged by large debris May have hidden damage

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Post-80s housing (current construction)

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Pre-80s houses

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Improving future for Pre-80s housing

Roof space inspections should be undertaken to look for partial or hidden failures of connections within the roof. (not just intensity/peak of event but also duration) Tie-downs up to date
Whenever roof is off look deeper / every 10 years?

General information on upgrading structural performance in existing houses can be found in Standards Australia Handbook HB 132.2.

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Maintenance of all buildings

Regular structural maintenance Looking for corrosion, rot, UV degradation, etc
Applies to all housing (not just old) Whenever roof is off look deeper: every 10 yrs? Check condition of connections, main members Replace/Update where necessary

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Roof Cladding
Loss of secret-fixed cladding and pierced fixed cladding

Poor installation

Screws not correctly fixed into timber purlin Screw spacing greater than manufacturer requirements

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Roof tiles
Fixing of ridge and part tiles Anchorage for C3, C4 sites AS 2050 fixes needed
Real fixings for ridges De-rating wind class for sarking

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Sheds
Design for dominant openings Detail all components including compression bracing and foundations Design for correct wind rating

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Doors

Required: Acknowledgement that Wind ratings for doors exist (Specification /certification) All forces on supports to be resisted including wind lock tensions

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Dominant openings
AS4055 already using dominant openings AS/NZS1170.2 allows protection of openings
Doesnt address large debris impact Problems with hardware

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Windows and doors

Doors and windows are part of the building envelope Need to be able to resist wind loads

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Wind-borne debris
Small
Tiles

Medium
Battens Sheets

Large
Roofs Sheds Big consequences

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Strong compartments
Increased protection for occupants against large debris
~1/3 to 1/2 of large debris released hits other houses Recognise envelope can be damaged Extra protection in strengthened small rooms

Increased protection for occupants against extreme events

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Wind-driven rain
Entry of water to internal space
Through windows, doors (seals designed for serviceability winds) Problems for carpets, contents

Entry of water to roof space

Through vents, broken soffits, valley gutters Problems for ceilings, wall linings

Consequences
Mould, corrosion, rot (amenity) Replacement of linings (structure) Homelessness

New standard for waterproofing at ultimate wind speeds? Selection of more durable materials?
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Wind finds weakest link

If we are to avoid failures in high wind events, it is important to ensure that; Appropriately designed and tested products, components and fixings are used Good product info and training is available on use/installation And the information is carefully followed

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Structural storm tide damage

Total height ~ 5 to 6m above AHD Height of water above HAT ~ 2 to 3m

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Storm Tide in TC Yasi

Significant, but could have been much worse Height of building relative to surge important Not much margin for error
>600 above floor a problem for most houses

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Storm Tide Guidelines for planning and building

(recently published by QLD Reconstruction Authority)

Wind, water and waves at the same time Level all important
Water height Wave height

Flow-under design water and debris details Flow-through design water and debris details

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To Conclude:
The wind finds the weakest link. Failure of a single element can lead to the progressive failure of the structure. Our houses are where we shelter they have to be secure. But MUST evacuate if threat of Storm Tide

Continued community Education and Awareness is required

end

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Repairs after TC Larry

Checked performance of houses repaired after TC Larry
Limited sample size Innisfail and Kurrimine Beach Smaller or similar loads

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Internal pressure does the work

Windward door failure leads to intern + extern pressures working together

Example from Dubbo thunderstorm

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Construction type
Lightweight cladding Unreinforced masonry Reinforced masonry

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Height of water through buildings

<200 mm >600 mm >1 m

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Storm Tide
Highest Water Level Breaking Waves Wave Set Up

Currents Storm Surge Height

High Tide Astronomical Tide Level

Mean Sea Level

Low Tide

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Education / Training / Information

New construction
Correct detailing requirements to match/exceed min design wind load Materials of appropriate durability Doors, windows, roller doors, hardware

Maintenance
Roof space inspection for partial damage / deterioration Whenever roof off, then check, maintain, upgrade

Curriculum
Engineers, designers, certifiers Wind Classifications, detailing Trades need to match details to wind classification

Community education
Need for maintenance Clean up potential debris Build to minimise risks topography, storm surge Evacuation / in-house shelters

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