Output details

Physical simulation of a single-celled tornado-like vortex, Part B: Wind loading on a cubical model

In a series of physical model studies of severe local storms including thunderstorm downbursts and tornadoes, a picture of the completely different surface pressure distributions on model buildings emerged compared to those found in traditional boundary layer flows. In particular, the low-level swirling nature of tornadoes leads to multiple faces experiencing positive external pressure that is not modelled in traditional flows. It is clear that utilizing data obtained in this way will not replicate the pressure distributions in these severe local weather events and may explain the disproportionate damage seen.