1. Building a Strong and Safe Structure
Liz Schrandt
Civil Engineer

2. Overview What is a flood plain? How can we avoid flooding?
What are structures made out of?
How do structures keep out water?
What building regulations are there?
What are different structures that hold water?

3. Flood Plains
Flood plain: an area of low, flat land along a stream or river that may flood (Webster dictionary)
the area which will be flooded by a 100-year storm (FEMA)
Design Storm: 10-year, 25-year, 50-year, 100-year storm

5. Avoiding Floods
Green Infrastructure: using natural materials to manage stormwater
Water is not absorbed by hard surfaces (concrete, asphalt, buildings)
Water is absorbed by soft surfaces (dirt, rock, porous pavement)

6. Building Materials Materials: concrete, steel, timber, masonry
Composite structures: structures of more than one material
Reinforced concrete = concrete with steel bars inside of it. Often the strongest and most durable, since concrete is strong in one direction and steel is strong in another. This is the most common material for structures such as flood walls. It is good for withstanding water as long as it doesn’t crack and then cause the steel to rust.

7. Keeping Water out of Buildings
External protection: stop logs, marine doors
Built-in protection: rain-screen walls, strengthened walls, water proofing coating

8. Forces Loadings Dead load: constant load Live load: changing load
Symmetrical shapes

9. Forces

10. Water Forces

11. Material Strength

12. Building Regulations City and state regulations
First floor out of flood plain
Insurance company requirements
Height above flood plain
Strength against flood forces
Options
Raise building
Strengthen structure

13. Retaining Walls

14. Dams

15. Questions?