Abstract
Failures of thousands of dwellings and that of a large number of engineered and non-engineered buildings and other industrial structures, caused by cyclones every year are of serious concern to professional engineers, scientists and researchers. The quality of common building materials used in the coastal regions of India such as stone and brick masonry, timber, steel and reinforced cement concerte, tiles, AC and other roofing sheets and also the effective methods of construction adopted, significantly affect the strength of structures in resisting severe cyclones. This paper discusses the common deficiencies on the properties of the materials used for walls and roofing of housing and other industrial structures, in resisting cyclonic wind forces and the ineffective construction practices leading to poor strength of overall structure. The paper also suggests some of the simple techniques to improve the cyclonic resistance of the structures.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Annamalai G and Shanmugasundaram J 1989 Research Report, SERC, Madras
Madhava Rao A G, Annamalai G, Ramachandra Murthy D S, Djugash A C R and Jayaraman R 1979 & 1982Design for low cost houses—A compendium (New Delhi: CECON/SERC) vols 1, 2
Mathur G C 1984Proc. Int. Conf. on natural hazard mitigation, Research and Practice, Small Buildings and Community Development, CIB/W-73, New Delhi
Meecham D, Surry D and Davenport A G 1989Proc. Int. Conf. on Recent Advances in Wind Engineering, (ed.) T F Sun. (Beijing: Pergamon Press) vol. 1
Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Construction 1980 Design of Buildings for High Winds, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Shanmugasundaram J and Arunachalam S 1990a Research Report, WEN-RR-90-4, SERC, Madras
Shanmugasundaram J, Arunachalam S and Arumugam M 1990b Research Report, WEN-RR-90-1, SERC, Madras
Shanmugasundaram J, Arunachalam S, Annamalai G and Arumugam M 1989Proc. Natl. Symp. on preparedness, mitigation, management of natural disasters, New Delhi Vol. 1, New Delhi
Sparks P R, Baker J, Belville J and Perry D C 1985 Hurricane Elena Gulf Coast
Venkateswarlu B, Arumugam M and Arunachalam S 1985Proc. Natl. Seminar on tall reinforced concrete chimneys, New Delhi
Venkateswarlu B and Muralidharan K 1978 Research Report, SERC, Madras
Wittenoom R A 1975Proc. Annual Engineering Conference, The Institution of Engineers, Australia
Zornig H F and Sherwood G E 1969 Wood structures survive hurricane Camille’s winds, USDA for Serv. Res. Paper. FPL. 123
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shanmugasundaram, J., Arunachalam, S. & Arumugam, M. Materials and methods of construction to resist the effects of cyclones. Bull. Mater. Sci. 15, 55–65 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02745217
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02745217