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Foster, S (2021) Improved thermal comfort for Hawai'i's elementary schools: Designing an educational building for thermal comfort using passive design techniques in the hot and humid climate, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Hawai'i at Manoa.

Gautam, K P (2009) Life-cycle cost analysis of home-ownership, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Hawai'i at Manoa.

Ghanem, A (2023) Integrated framework for multi-hazard resilience assessment of infrastructures, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Hawai'i at Manoa.

• Type: Thesis
• Keywords: accuracy; failure; hazards; reliability; reinforced concrete; decision making; estimating; risk assessment; probability; simulation; bridge; earthquake
• ISBN/ISSN:
• URL: https://www.proquest.com/docview/2835416669
• Abstract:
  Natural hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis can have a severe impact on societies globally, causing significant economic losses and leading to casualties. In marine environments, earthquake-induced fault ruptures can trigger devastating tsunamis that amplify the scale of the disaster. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the structural fragility of infrastructure and buildings in regions that are prone to seismic and tsunami hazards. Previous research has shown that earthquakes and tsunamis have caused thousands of deaths and billions of dollars in losses. Thus, it is imperative to continue investing in research aimed at developing resilient infrastructure systems that can withstand multiple natural hazards, especially earthquakes, and tsunamis. By understanding the risks and implementing measures to enhance infrastructure resilience, communities can mitigate the impact of these hazards and reduce their devastating effects on their economies and societies.In the context of structure loss estimation and hazard risk assessment, fragility or vulnerability curves are commonly utilized. These curves represent the probability of failure for a specific hazard and are typically displayed using cumulative log-normal distribution functions that express the likelihood of achieving predetermined damage criteria. By utilizing fragility or vulnerability curves, decision-makers can better understand the potential for structural damage or failure during the hazard and develop strategies to mitigate risk and enhance infrastructure resilience. This dissertation developed a comprehensive analytical fragility framework for the assessment of structures subjected to multi-hazards. As well as to investigate the behavior of structures under these extreme loads using numerical simulation techniques and to provide valuable insights into the behavior of structures under seismic and tsunami loads. The developed simulation framework is applied to selected structures, analyzed, and compared the results of the research, and offers insights into the reliability and robustness of current assessment methodologies. The results of the research study are expected to contribute to the broader research goals of improving our understanding of structural fragility under extreme loads and developing more resilient structures in seismic and tsunami regions.This dissertation presents three studies that investigate the vulnerability of different types of infrastructures (buildings and bridges) when subjected to consecutive hazards (seismic and tsunami loads). The first research focuses on the seismic vulnerability analysis of skewed reinforced concrete bridges, which are commonly used in transportation networks due to their complex and non-orthogonal nature. Despite their geometric irregularities, such bridges are often necessary, and avoiding them is not a viable solution. To quantify the effects of skewness on bridge performance, fragility relationships for various bridge models are derived from nonlinear dynamic response history analysis using a new structural reliability method. The results show that the skew angle has a direct effect on the seismic vulnerability of reinforced concrete (RC) bridges, and this research can be useful for designing new skew RC bridges.The second research investigates the seismic fragility of reinforced concrete frames with mass irregularities resulting from possible changes in structure use. Such changes can significantly affect live load distributions, making the structure more vulnerable to earthquake damage. Comprehensive three-dimensional structural models are analyzed for accurate vulnerability evaluation, considering twenty-one frame models with varying vertical and in-plan irregularities under different live load distribution scenarios. The results highlight the effects of vertical and in-plan mass irregularities on the structural vulnerability and performance of reinforced concrete frames when subjected to earthquake loading.The third research addresses the vulnerability of structures under combined seismic and tsu ami loads, which is a critical issue for enhancing resilience in coastal regions. Neglecting the interaction between joint intensity-measure fragilities can lead to significant inaccuracies when estimating damage or structural loss. Therefore, a numerical simulation framework is developed to assess the fragility of selected structures under various earthquake and tsunami scenarios using successive nonlinear dynamic time history analyses. The study emphasizes the importance of considering the complex interaction between various intensity measures to improve the accuracy of risk assessment and decision-making in disaster management.In conclusion, this research aims to enhance the resilience of structures under different loading conditions and to develop the knowledge and approaches to assess the vulnerability and performance of such infrastructures. The research emphasizes the need for an accurate evaluation of vulnerability under different loading conditions, including structural irregularities and complex loading scenarios, to improve the accuracy of risk assessment and decision-making in disaster management. The results of these studies provide valuable insights into the behavior of structures under different hazards loads and are expected to be useful for new designs of reinforced concrete bridges and frames subjected to seismic and tsunami loads and to assess the vulnerability of existing structures to hazard events., with the potential to reduce the economic consequences of damage to transportation systems and coastal regions.

Riley, S (2022) Assessing barriers to green infrastructure for flood mitigation, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Hawai'i at Manoa.

Soon, C D (2009) Managing risk and uncertainty in transportation megaprojects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Hawai'i at Manoa.