Development of a Wind Chamber for Model Testing of Tornado Forces on Structures

摘要

The aim of the study was to investigate the possibility of modelling the most significant features of tornadoes with respect to their effects at near ground level. Tornadoes typically are local vortex-type phenomena with high-speed rotating cores. Due to their unpredictability there is a lack of data of the loadings they can impose on structures and hence it is desirable to provide a convenient and controllable model testing system for such cases. After trying a number of possible arrangements, a satisfactory system has been evolved, which is essentially a closed cylindrical chamber that has fluid movement initiated and maintained by a drive unit in its upper part, thereby leaving the lower part free for ground and structural modelling.