Research Brief: Validation of Molecular Dynamics-Based Structural Damage

Abstract

Windstorms currently generate $28 billion in average annual damage and this figure is projected to potentially rise to $38 billion by 2075. Traditional engineering approaches that analyze the resilience of structures fail to account for non-structural damage because of the difficulties in modeling such damage. Additionally, even detailed frameworks, like FEMA’s HAZUS-MH, provide results only for categories of building types. While it is possible to model the sudden impact of loads from hazards like windstorms using such existing frameworks, a methodology does not exist by which to readily and quantitatively model such damage to unique building designs.