Full-Scale Destructive Testing of Houses to Hurricane-Force Wind and Rain

The International Hurricane Research Center (IHRC) has developed a new research approach to better understand hurricane-induced effects on residential and low-rise commercial buildings through full-scale, destructive testing, much the same way that the automobile industry tackled the crash worthiness issue and the earthquake community approached building safety. Through full-scale destructive testing, performance-based evaluation, and failure-mode analysis, innovative mitigation techniques and products will be developed.