Wind-Induced Vulnerability Assessment of Residential Structures
Summary
Windstorms represent one of the most pervasive natural hazards affecting residential built environments worldwide, ranging from tropical cyclones to extratropical windstorms. Vulnerability assessment typically encompasses three elements: hazard analysis, exposure quantification and structural vulnerability modelling. Hazard analysis characterises extreme wind fields through historical records, reanalysis data or high-resolution numerical simulations. Exposure quantification maps the spatial distribution and asset value of dwellings across diverse topographies. Vulnerability modelling employs empirical damage functions, probabilistic fragility curves, laboratory testing and numerical simulations to relate wind intensity to damage states or economic loss. Empirical functions derive from insurance claims or post-event surveys, while experimental programmes—such as wind-tunnel tests on roof-to-wall connections—or computational fluid dynamics studies refine our understanding of wind-induced load paths. Outputs support the calibration of building codes, the design of cost-effective retrofits (for example window strengthening and shutter systems) and community-level resilience planning. Globally, low-rise timber constructions in North America, Europe’s architectural heritage in wind-prone coastal zones and lightweight housing in the Asia-Pacific region have all benefited from these integrated approaches, informing both engineering practice and policy frameworks.
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Wind-Induced Vulnerability Assessment of Residential Structures publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in wind-induced vulnerability assessment of residential structures across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Fragility curve: Probability that a structure or component will reach or exceed a specified damage state for a given wind intensity.
Vulnerability function: Quantitative relationship between wind hazard intensity and expected degree of structural damage or economic loss.
Exposure: Inventory and spatial distribution of residential assets and their associated value within a defined hazard-prone area.
References
- Assessment of wind–damage relations for Norway using 36 years of daily insurance data. Natural Hazards and Earth System Science (2024).
- Experimental Assessment of Wind Loads on Roof-to-Wall Connections for Residential Buildings. Frontiers in Built Environment (2020).
- Risk-based cost-benefit analysis of climate adaptation measures for Australian contemporary houses under extreme winds. Journal of Infrastructure Preservation and Resilience (2020).
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