16 Best Books on Disaster Resistant Structures

“Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures” Book Review: The aim of this book is to provide a clear explanation of the various sources of damage that can be triggered by an earthquake and the systematic approach for designing earthquake-resistant structures. It would be beneficial for practicing professionals, architects, and postgraduate students of structural engineering. The book starts by introducing earthquakes and ground motion and provides detailed coverage of structures and soil in relation to their seismic response. The importance of emphasizing practical design is extensively discussed by identifying the factors that cause damage and providing guidelines for effective seismic-resistant design, with special attention given to wood, masonry, concrete, and steel structures.

“Earthquake-resistant Design Concepts: An Introduction to the Nehrp Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures Fema P-749 / December 2010” Book Review: The Provisions serve as a resource for codes and regulations development organizations to establish robust seismic-resistant design and construction requirements. It also offers comprehensive guidance to design professionals, building officials, and educators on the intended application and purpose of seismic regulations. Since the recommendations are technical documents meant for use primarily by professionals with specialized training, the building codes and contractual standards based on them are also highly technical. This overview of the NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions aims to provide interested individuals with a clear explanation of the Provisions’ seismic-safe design objectives and requirements.

“Early Warning Systems for Natural Disaster Reduction” Book Review: The aim of this book is to provide a clear explanation of the various sources of damage that can be triggered by an earthquake and the systematic approach for designing earthquake-resistant structures. It would be beneficial for practicing professionals, architects, and postgraduate students of structural engineering. The book starts by introducing earthquakes and ground motion and provides detailed coverage of structures and soil in relation to their seismic response. The importance of emphasizing practical design is extensively discussed by identifying the factors that cause damage and providing guidelines for effective seismic-resistant design, with special attention given to wood, masonry, concrete, and steel structures.

“Earthquake-Resistant Design of Building Structures” Book Review: This book represents a significant advancement in seismic analysis and design. It is an excellent technical resource for both undergraduate and graduate students in civil and structural engineering, as well as for practicing engineers and architects. Additionally, it serves as a valuable reference material for research scientists. The book begins by discussing seismology, seismic measurements, and the effects of earthquakes on structures. It then covers the analysis and design of structures for seismic resistance, including load-resisting systems and lateral load capacity of constructions.

“Design Of Structure” Book Review: The book covers a wide range of topics related to structural design, including load analysis, material selection, design of various types of structural elements, and seismic design. The author’s writing style is clear and concise, with numerous diagrams and examples provided throughout the book. The book also includes several practice problems and solutions, making it a valuable tool for those preparing for structural design exams. Overall, “Design of Structure” is a comprehensive and practical guide to structural design that is highly recommended for anyone interested in the field.

“Earth-quake Resistant Design of Structures” Book Review: This book represents a significant advancement in seismic analysis and design. It is an excellent technical resource for both undergraduate and graduate students in civil and structural engineering, as well as for practicing engineers and architects. Additionally, it serves as a valuable reference material for research scientists. The book begins by discussing seismology, seismic measurements, and the effects of earthquakes on structures. It then covers the analysis and design of structures for seismic resistance, including load-resisting systems and lateral load capacity of constructions.

“Building a Disaster-Resistant University: FEMA 443” Book Review: This publication offers planning guidance to educational institutions as they prepare to identify their risks, assess their vulnerability to natural and man-made hazards, and develop a hazard mitigation plan. Its objectives are to encourage higher education institutions to take risk reduction seriously and to provide a framework for implementing a mitigation program to permanently reduce vulnerability to future disasters. This publication serves both as a how-to guide and a refinement of the experiences of six universities and colleges across the country that have been working over the past few years to become more disaster-resistant. It complements the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) State and Local Mitigation Planning how-to guides, which provide planning guidance for creating and implementing a risk reduction planning process. These how-to guides are excellent resources for higher education institutions and are referenced in this publication whenever appropriate. This guide provides essential information intended for institutions just starting out as well as sound ideas, concepts, and practical experiences for organizations that have already begun taking steps to become more disaster-resistant.

“Earthquake Disaster Management” Book Review: This document provides a detailed account of the involvement of the government, military, and civil society in the rescue and aid operations following the Latur/Killari earthquake of September 30, 1993, in Maharashtra, India, and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Gubal village, which was completely destroyed by the quake. Written twelve years after the disaster struck, this documentation offers insights into the long-term implications of administrative decisions on resettlement and reconstruction, the durability of the geodesic dome as a seismic-resistant housing design built for the survivors, and the social resilience and acceptance of rehabilitation measures.

“Post-Earthquake Fire Analysis in Urban Structures: Risk Management Strategies” Book Review: This book illustrates the effects of post-earthquake fires on partially damaged structures located in seismic urban areas. It evaluates the extent of associated post-earthquake fire effects and discusses methods for mitigating the risk at both the macro and micro scales. The macro-scale strategies address urban areas, while the micro-scale techniques address building structures, covering both existing structures and those that are yet to be designed.

“Homebuilders’ Guide to Earthquake-Resistant Design and Construction: FEMA 232 / June 2006” Book Review: The purpose of this guide is to provide information on current best practices for designing and constructing earthquake-resistant shelters. This information is intended for builders, architects, code enforcement personnel, and prospective homeowners. The guide draws from lessons learned from the 1989 Loma Prieta and 1994 Northridge earthquakes, as well as data gathered from the CUREE-Caltech Wood Frame Project, which was funded by FEMA. It explains how earthquake loads impact single and two-family homes and outlines the requirements of the 2003 International Residential Code (IRC) that are intended to withstand these loads. Additionally, the guide suggests strategies for improving earthquake performance and estimates their associated costs. It’s important to note that the information presented in this guide applies only to single and two-family homes built using the non-engineered, prescriptive construction methods outlined in the IRC. The guide also describes the applicable IRC regulations regarding building placement and construction.

“Seismic Design of Reinforced Concrete Buildings” Book Review: This comprehensive resource, authored by a renowned seismic engineering expert, delves into the theory and practice of designing and evaluating earthquake-resistant reinforced concrete structures. The book covers the behavior of reinforced concrete materials, components, and systems under normal and extreme loads, with a focus on their response to seismic earthquake loading. It describes design methods, both at a basic level as required by current building codes, and at a more advanced level necessary for special issues such as seismic performance evaluation. The resource provides data and examples that are useful for analyzing reinforced concrete structures, and it includes numerous illustrations, tables, and equations in this detailed reference.

“Home Builders Guide to Seismic Resistant Construction” Book Review: This publication provides seismic design and construction guidance for single and double-family homes in a manner that is accessible to home builders, homeowners, and other non-engineers. It incorporates and references the prescriptive provisions of the 2003 International Residential Code, as well as the findings of the FEMA-funded CUREE-Caltech Wood Frame Project. The guide includes prescriptive design detail plans based on state-of-the-art earthquake-resistant design, intended for use by home builders and others in constructing non-engineered residential buildings. Additionally, the guide utilizes the results of recent loss studies and current research and analysis to identify various specific above-code measures for improved seismic earthquake performance, along with their associated costs.

“Rapid Visual Screening of Buildings for Potential Seismic Hazards: Supporting Documentation” Book Review: The aim of this book was to offer a cost-effective and efficient approach to evaluate the seismic safety of a large number of buildings with limited access to the structures, and identify those that require a more thorough assessment. The book outlines the development of the FEMA 154 Handbook, which was later updated to a second edition incorporating feedback from government agencies, state and city authorities, and other organizations. The second edition also included new information about building performance during earthquakes, seismic hazards, and newly developed seismic assessment and performance prediction tools. Both editions provide technical justification for the scoring system and guidelines outlined by FEMA. This book is a valuable resource for professionals in the field of earthquake engineering and building safety.

“Concrete Buildings in Seismic Regions” Book Review: This book combines scientific knowledge of earthquake engineering with a focus on the design of reinforced concrete structures in seismic regions. It addresses practical design issues, providing an integrated, comprehensible, and lucid presentation that is suitable for design practice. The book establishes guidelines for the appropriate initial system for various types of structures, explores recent developments, and covers the past twenty years of research, design, and earthquake engineering. Divided into three sections, the book specifically addresses seismic demand issues and the fundamental issues of structural behavior, assesses the “capacity” of structural systems to withstand seismic effects in terms of strength and deformation, and highlights existing reinforced concrete structures under seismic action. All of the book’s material has been adapted to fit a modern seismic code and offers in-depth knowledge on the foundation upon which the code guidelines are based.

“DISASTER and RECOVERY PLANNING: A GUIDE FOR FACILITY MANAGERS” Book Review: The fourth edition of this book covers topics related to disaster prevention, including the impact of disasters on a company’s operations, contingency planning, and loss prevention. It provides guidance on facility evacuation, employee training, and establishing a chain of command. The book includes checklists for computer and data protection, bomb threat response, and standby power, as well as information on conducting self-inspections. Additionally, the book discusses the role of the media in disaster planning and recovery, and provides guidance on working with the media.

“Coming Home after Disaster: Multiple Dimensions of Housing Recovery” Book Review: This book provides a comprehensive overview of the complex issues related to post-disaster housing. It addresses global concerns and the interrelated social, economic, and political considerations that must be taken into account. The book examines the multi-faceted nature of housing and identifies key issues and challenges that must be addressed in post-disaster contexts. It is intended for scholars and practitioners alike and offers insights into the roles of emergency management, public administration, public policy, urban planning, sociology, anthropology, geography, economics, and architecture in post-disaster housing efforts.