Reliability of Roof Panels in Coastal Areas Considering Effects of Climate Change and Embedded Corrosion of Metal Fasteners

Abstract

Roof panels have been recognized as the most vulnerable components in wood construction under hurricane events, which can result in enormous economic losses and human casualties. This paper presents a reliability analysis of roof panels considering effects of climate change on altering patterns of hurricane hazard and embedded corrosion of metal fasteners in hurricane risk assessment. On the one hand, it has been found that the hurricane wind intensity may increase due to the effects of climate change, and the intensified hurricanes will result in more severe damage to coastal constructions. On the other hand, there is corrosion on the shanks of the fasteners that are tightly embedded in the wood roof panels, and the reduced diameter of shanks will reduce the uplift capacity of roof panels. Uncertainties in hurricane wind load and roof panel uplift resistance (the effects of embedded corrosion on the diameter of metal fasteners) are considered. The effectiveness of several retrofitting strategies is assessed.