Residents in coastal communities face multiple challenges when protecting their homes against extreme events. Hurricane winds and storm surges have caused widespread structural damage throughout eastern and southern communities in the United States and in other countries. This reality, coupled with existing research indicating rising sea levels and increased hurricane intensity has forced coastal communities to address the issue. One strategy being implemented and continuously refined is adaptive coastal structural design. This paper explores adaptive coastal design techniques for residential structures focusing on an amphibious housing and modular construction. Existing design concepts of coastal housing were reviewed and the advantages and disadvantages of various concepts as well the challenges were summarized. The amphibious home structural design concept presented includes a foundation base (concrete hull) with steel guide posts to resist lateral loads. The posts will prevent lateral movements while still allowing the house to float under an extreme flood event. The design loads applied to the amphibious home structure are based on a 100-year flood event with hurricane level wind forces and high storm surges following the Federal Emergency and Management Agency (FEMA) recommendations. Results of the analysis and design of the amphibious home structure showed that the design is feasible and sustainable in a 100-year flood event with minimum to minor structural damage. Additionally, a life-cycle cost analysis was conducted for a 50-year period comparing the costs of amphibious homes built in a New Jersey coastal community to the repair and restoration costs of existing homes damaged following a 100-year flood event. Cost analysis results showed that amphibious homes were about 10 lower than the cost of elevated homes and the associated repairs after a hurricane. This study also examined prefabricated modular amphibious homes as cost effective solution that can save time and reduce construction and maintenance costs.
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