Mobile Buildings: Escape from Disaster

Abstract

This thesis proposes the use of multi-story mobile buildings as an alternative approach to current natural disaster response and prevention protocols. The mobile building would serve as temporary housing and permanent housing. For temporary housing, the structure will be able to arrive at disaster sites and accommodate recently displaced residents. For permanent housing, with sufficient warning, the structure will be able to move to a different location in order to prevent damage. The study first examines three current mobile structures and identifies several weaknesses in the following categories: aesthetics, size, health safety, and structural stability. The study then addresses the size concern by presenting and evaluating three floor plans. Two floor plans are then selected: one for temporary housing and the other for permanent housing. The study next addresses health safety and structural stability concerns by selecting a material that is lightweight, non-hazardous to human health and exhibits good mechanical properties. High quality wood material is chosen. A three-story braced frame structure and a three-story fixed frame structure are then simulated using finite element analysis. Based on the simulation results, the braced frame structure is selected over the fixed frame structure. The thesis further addresses structural stability concerns by examining the braced frame’s resistance to overturning due to wind and due to the structure making a sharp turn. The thesis then concludes by presenting a three-story braced frame structure that is lightweight, aesthetically pleasing, structurally stable, sufficient in size, and non-hazardous to human health. Recommendations for further work are also included in the conclusion.