February 24, 2011
The Effect of Fire Following an Extreme Event
by Spencer Quiel
The ability of a structure to resist a disproportionately large collapse due to localized damage (i.e. progressive collapse) has become a topic of increasing concern within the building community in the wake of structural collapses worldwide over the last half century… The goal of this study is to raise awareness of potential fire hazards that may follow extreme events and provide recommendations regarding evacuation times for occupants of damaged buildings under fire.
February 24, 2011
Terrorist Risk Assessment and Mitigation of Bridges
by Andy Coughlin
In 2003, the Blue Ribbon Panel on Bridge and Tunnel Security issued its recommendations for risk assessment and mitigation of bridges and tunnels. The report gives general guidelines to help decision makers improve the security of bridges and tunnels. However, the actual implementation can be highly dependent on the methods used to carry out the assessment.
February 24, 2011
Performance Limits for Progressive Collapse
by Steve Wopschall
Progressive collapse is an extreme loading event that requires identifying and engaging all necessary and available load paths within a structure. Most recently, Hinman engineers have conducted a nonlinear dynamic finite element analysis of an existing 33-story high rise structure with the intent of pushing the limits of structural performance. Hemmed in by the constraints of the current governing criteria, project engineers found structural performance to be limited by the required use of seismic documentation. When costs and upgrades are a concern, and collapse is the question, it appears to be necessary to redefine the problem of progressive collapse.
January 19, 2011
ATFP Design of Military vs. Civilian Federal Facilities
by Eve Hinman
I had the honor of providing expert testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on the risk implications of applying the DoD Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for GSA lease procurements. The House is concerned about the cost of providing the large setback distances required by DoD standards for new facilities housing “back office” DoD operations located within an office park or downtown location with an uncontrolled perimeter.
January 19, 2011
Overview of new ISC Physical Security Criteria
by Shalva Marjanishvili
The new ISC Physical Security Criteria for Federal Facilities (April 12, 2010) has some significant changes from the previous version. There are larger threat sizes, but the approach is more flexible and allows for cost-risk decision making on a project by project basis.
