The effect of combined extreme transient loadings on a structure is
not well understood - whether the source is man-made, such as an
explosion and fire, or natural, as an earthquake or extreme wind
loading. A critical assessment of current knowledge is timely (with
Fukushima-like disasters or terrorist threats).

The central issue in all these problems is structural integrity, along
with their transient nature, their unexpectedness, and often the
uncertainty behind their cause. No single traditional scientific
discipline provides full answer, but a...