ACCEPTANCE OF HAZARD IN DESIGN OF FLOOD- PRONE STRUCTURES

This paper was presented to the symposium on natural hazards in Australia, held in Canberra in May 1976. The community at large generally assumes that flood- prone structures are designed to eliminate, as far as possible, any hazard associated with the occurrence of floods. This applies to structures required to pass flood flows and to works and projects designed to mitigate the effects of floods. However this expectation is not the actual objective in the practical design of flood- prone structures. Overall optimum use of the community's resources dictate that design is carried out on the basis of a finite, and often quite high, probability of failure. Occasional to frequent failures and consequent damage and hazard are thus to be expected. This approach to design on the basis of accepted risk is not well understood by either the public or by most of their public administrators. Indeed there is a lack of appreciation even amongst many designers. There is a need for greater understanding of this basis of design and its expected results. A primary objective of this paper is to draw attention to these facts. There is also a great need for clarification of the issues involved, and for collection of data on flood damages and the performance of existing structures. Several areas of research are suggested. These would generally improve design for flood- prone structures where the design is primarily based on an expected frequency of flooding. The investment in this research would be repaid many times over in economic, social and environmental benefits. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/085847056X
• Corporate Authors:

  Australian Academy of Science

  P.O. Box 783
  Canberra City, A.C.T.,   Australia 
• Authors:
  • Cordery, I
  • Pilgrim, D H
• Publication Date: 1979

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 216-226
• Serial:
  • Natural Hazards in Australia
  • Publisher: Australian Academy of Science

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Conferences; Design; Economics; Floods; Hazards; Minimization; Prevention; Probability theory; Risk assessment; Structural design; Structures
• Uncontrolled Terms: Design criteria
• ITRD Terms: 8525: Conference; 9011: Design (overall design); 255: Economics; 3355: Engineering structure; 2569: Flooding; 9150: Risk
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Data and Information Technology; Design; Economics; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00334651
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• ISBN: 0 85847 056 X
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 15 1981 12:00AM