Utilization of cold-formed steel-framed emergency shelter for typhoon reliefs in the Philippines

Abstract

The destructive aftermath of storms and typhoons in the Philippines more prominently affects isolated remote locations that lack methodical and strategic procedures to address the situation. One form of assistance provided during disasters is the construction of shelters, which can be categorized as emergency, temporary, or transitional, serving as protection during recovery periods. Cold-formed steel (CFS) is widely used, and its versatility in fabrication and configurability make it an ideal candidate for building emergency shelters that are lightweight, easy to assemble, upgradeable, and cost-effective. This research aims to address gaps in existing modalities for emergency shelters during typhoon disasters through proposing an alternative design that uses CFS based on internationally accepted standards. The methodology is divided into three (3) phases, namely (1) analytical design and modeling, (2) cost sustainability assessment, and (3) shelter implementation plan. Three (3) different configurations with 4, 6, and 8 studs per wall face were designed and optimized using Midas Gen based on governing wind loads. The final frame design consisted of fully cross-braced along the failing direction, with an increase in uniform thickness of members. All of which checked for adequacy and connections designed accordingly. The overall cost was quantified lower than that of the traditionally used shelter design in terms of cost, covered area, and lifespan by a significant margin. All important information and findings are aligned in an original shelter implementation manual to ensure the shelter is aligned with the current situation in the Philippines.

Keywords

• Cold-formed steel
• Post-disaster response
• Emergency shelters
• Cost sustainability assessment