Structural analysis of post-disaster masonry structures modeled using cloud2fem software

Research often neglects historic and ageing infrastructure when investigating the impact of extreme wind loading and structural strengthening. This is exemplified by the ASCE 7-22 standard in the US that prescribes design loads for tornado hazard, which currently does not apply to Risk Categories (RC) 1 and 2, comprising a significant proportion of historic structures. After a disaster, analyzing these structures numerically can be difficult due to their complex geometries, use of multiple construction materials, and alterations to the original structure. This study aimed to digitally document and evaluate the damage caused by the Midwest Tornado in Kentucky in December 2021, specifically focusing on the historic downtown of Mayfield, KY. Building data was gathered using various devices, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle's, LiDARs, and cameras, and converted into finite element meshes using the open-source software Cloud2FEM. Multiple meshes for the historic post office building in Mayfield, KY, was generated using varied rules within Cloud2FEM. These meshes were then simulated using Abaqus to qualitatively assess the stress concentrations observed under tornadic loading calculated using the ASCE7-22.