Collaborative Research: Improving USAR Preparedness Using Simulation Technology

利用模拟地震学改进USAR准备Sherif El-Tawil和Benigno Aguirre摘要：当建筑物由于灾难性事件倒塌时，在碎石堆中不可避免地形成稳定的空隙。这些空洞是由于结构和非结构性元素的下降而产生的，这些元素以有利的方式相互作用，创造了受害者可以找到庇护所的空间。由于多达三分之一的被救出的建筑物倒塌受害者被发现在这样的空间，本研究的主要目的是使用最先进的有限元模拟来调查如何，以及在什么条件下，他们形成。其他次要目标是：1）基于经验证的有限元模型以及可用于培训USAR人员的虚拟现实可视化工具创建有效的培训工具，以及2）开发可以形成公共教育和意识计划基础的知识，以帮助未经培训的即兴救援人员以及城市搜索和救援工作队在倒塌的建筑现场更有效，更安全地运作。这项研究将作为密歇根大学（UM）土木与环境工程系和特拉华州大学灾害研究中心（DRC）之间的合作努力进行。更广泛的影响：拟议的研究的产品将是有价值的建筑规范协会，建筑师，工程师和其他专业人员参与建筑施工。研究结果将帮助他们选择基础设施设计、空间功能相互关系、建筑物搜索和救援政策的制定、人员培训以及其他事项，以最大限度地提高建筑物倒塌期间和之后的生存能力。此外，研究结果也将对指导和改善联邦、州和地方各级志愿者和搜救工作队在建筑物倒塌现场的行动大有裨益。同样重要的是，该项目将协助NSF在其正在进行的方案努力，以显示健全的科学的实际影响，以及在社会学和工程学的跨学科合作的重要回报。项目成果还将构成一个扩大的例子，说明在工程科学指导下引发的社会变革对灾害社会学具有重要意义。

IMPROVING USAR PREPAREDNESS USING SIMULATION TECHNOLOGYSherif El-Tawil and Benigno AguirreAbstract: When a building collapses due to a catastrophic event, stable voids are inevitably formed in the rubble pile. These voids occur as a result of falling structural and nonstructural elements that interact together in a favorable manner to create spaces in which victims may find shelter. Since as many as one third of all building collapse victims that are rescued are found in such spaces, the primary objective of this research is to use state-of-the-art finite element simulations to investigate how, and under what conditions, they are formed. Other secondary objectives are to: 1) create effective training tools based on validated finite element models coupled with virtual reality visualization tools that can be used for training USAR personnel, and 2) develop knowledge that could form the basis of public education and awareness programs to help untrained, impromptu rescuers as well as urban search and rescue taskforces operate more effectively and safely at a collapsed building site. The research will be conducted as a collaborative effort between the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan (UM) and the Disaster Research Center (DRC) at the University of Delaware. Broader Impact: The products of the proposed research will be of value to building code associations, architects, engineers, and other professionals involved in building construction. The results will help them make choices of infrastructure design, space-function interrelationships, the creation of building search and rescue policies, staff training, and other matters to maximize survivability during and in the aftermath of building collapse. Moreover, the results will also be of great benefit in guiding and improving the operations of emergent groups of volunteers and SAR taskforces at the federal, state, and local levels at sites of building collapse. As importantly, the project will assist the NSF in its ongoing programmatic efforts to show the practical implications of sound science as well as the important payoffs of interdisciplinary cooperation in sociology and engineering. Project results will also constitute an extended example of induced social change guided by engineering science of importance to the sociology of disasters.