CERS - 2024

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.248.9.226/handle/123/22814

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Browsing CERS - 2024 by Author "Damruwan, HGH"

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    item: Conference-Abstract
    Assessment of disaster resilience in hospitals: a case study based framework development for Sri Lankan context
    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, 2024) Marasinghe, MMGC; Damruwan, HGH; Siriwardana, CSA; Dhanapala, S; Wijesekara, N; Wedamulla, A; Pasindu, HR; Damruwan, H; Weerasinghe, P; Fernando, L; Rajapakse, C
    Hospitals are essential infrastructures that must maintain continuous operation during and after disasters to ensure the safety of patients and staff while providing medical services, even under surge conditions. Given the critical nature of these facilities, assessing their disaster preparedness is of utmost importance. This study addresses the limitations of the World Health Organization's Hospital Safety Index (HSI) when applied to Sri Lankan hospitals, leading to the development of the Structural Safety of Hospitals Assessment for Sri Lanka (SSH-SL). The study presents a comprehensive framework for evaluating hospital safety, divided into three primary modules: structural safety (utilizing SSH-SL), functional safety, and emergency and disaster management. Enhancements were made to the latter two modules to better align with the specific needs of the Sri Lankan context. The framework introduces a set of equations to calculate the safety index for each module, which then assigns safety levels and provides recommendations for improvement. This framework was applied to assess 15 government hospitals, revealing significant concerns across all three modules, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to enhance hospital resilience in Sri Lanka. The results from the assessment indicate that the structural safety levels of the 15 hospitals are generally at or above average level, suggesting that these facilities can operate during disaster conditions, though steps must be taken to ensure safety of both patients and staff. In terms of functional aspects, the majority of hospitals demonstrated a safety level of average or above, with two hospitals exhibiting below-average safety levels. Regarding Emergency and Disaster Management, 11 out of the 15 hospitals displayed high safety levels, whereas two hospitals had low safety levels. Immediate actions are necessary for hospitals with below-average safety levels, with a focus on implementing both short-term and long-term remedies. Additionally, limitations of the framework were identified during the hospital assessment process. The architectural safety submodule, under functional safety, was recognized as a critical submodule requiring modifications. Several assessment criteria specific to the Sri Lankan context were identified and subsequently incorporated into the existing submodule. Following these adjustments, a Delphi Study was conducted on the enhanced submodule, utilizing a panel of experts to gauge their consensus. Based on the survey results from the Delphi Study, weights were assigned to each assessment criterion within the submodule, leading to the derivation of a comprehensive safety score for the architectural safety of hospital buildings.
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    item: Conference-Abstract
    Investigation of the drift performance of point fixed glass façade systems under varying flexibility of spider arm Connections
    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, 2024) Suraweera, MV; Damruwan, HGH; Pasindu, HR; Damruwan, H; Weerasinghe, P; Fernando, L; Rajapakse, C
    Glass façade is a key component in contemporary architecture, offering both aesthetic appeal and structural functionality. Among the various facade systems, Point-Fixed Glass Façade (PFGF) systems stand out for their elegance and adaptability. However, their drift performance when subjected to in-plane racking actions due to seismic and wind forces is a significant concern, particularly in regions with low to moderate seismic risk, where such factors are often neglected during the design phase. Additionally, there is a notable scarcity of research on PFGF systems, particularly concerning parametric studies that explore drift capacity while considering the flexibility of spider arms. This study addresses this gap by presenting an in-depth analysis of the in-plane drift performance of PFGF systems. A comprehensive Three-Dimensional (3D), non-linear Finite Element (FE) model was meticulously developed using ANSYS software, incorporating non-linear material properties and 3D elements to accurately and realistically represent the behavior of spider arms under loading conditions. To ensure a balance between model accuracy and computational efficiency, a detailed mesh sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the optimal mesh size. The developed FE model was thoroughly validated against experimental data from previous studies, evaluating key parameters such as pushover curves, drift capacity, and maximum in-plane displacements. The validation demonstrated that the FE model achieved a drift capacity of 2.12% with a corresponding force of 15.97 kN, closely matching the reported experimental results. Additionally, a separate 3D linear FE model was developed to compare the outcomes between linearly and non-linearly modelled spider arms, further highlighting the critical importance of incorporating material nonlinearity in significantly enhancing the accuracy of the developed FE model. The parametric study conducted on the PFGF system provided valuable insights into its drift performance under various configurations. Findings indicated that reducing the thickness of spider arms significantly improves drift performance, albeit with a minor reduction in allowable force. Similarly, decreasing the width of spider arms enhances drift performance, though at the cost of a noticeable reduction in allowable force. Increasing the diameter of the circular and slotted holes in spider arms improved drift performance, with a slight rise in allowable force. Moreover, decreasing the rotational friction at the base connection of the spider arm led to a modest enhancement in drift performance, with minimal impact on the allowable force. These results provide critical insights for engineers designing PFGF systems, emphasizing the importance of optimizing spider arm configurations to enhance drift capacity. The study underscores the need for considering structural interactions in facade system design to mitigate risks associated with seismic and wind loads. The validated FE model and the derived parametric insights are instrumental in guiding future design practices and improving the resilience of PFGF systems in various loading conditions.