Title: Current Resiliency Based Initiatives and Impacts on Concrete Design

Author(s): Scott Campbell

Publication: Web Session

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Date: 10/25/2020

Abstract:
Resilience has become a hot topic in many areas of engineering, with multiple definitions and proposed ways of becoming more resilient. Many of these initiatives have the potential to directly affect the way concrete design is performed. Examples of current initiatives include the Break Even Mitigation Percent (BEMP) tool and the City Texture concept, both developed by the Concrete Sustainability Hub at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The BEMP tool allows for determining the amount that can be spent in addition to standard construction costs and still produce a positive return when considering the lifecycle costs of the building. The city texture concept provides better resolution of wind speeds during an extreme event by considering the surrounding buildings. The improved prediction of wind speeds allows for a building design that is resistant to the actual loads experienced, and thus better able to remain resilient in the face of a hurricane. These tools, along with other resilience initiatives currently underway in multiple venues will be explored regarding their impact on the design of concrete buildings.