Experimental Study on Tornado-Induced Wind Pressures on a Cubic Building with Openings

Abstract

Wind pressures acting on a cubic building with openings exposed to stationary tornadolike vortices were studied experimentally. The effects of opening ratio, single central opening azimuth, and radial distance between the building model and tornadolike vortex on external and internal wind pressure distributions were the focus of this study. Particular attention was paid to the difference between tornado-induced wind pressure coefficients and those obtained in conventional boundary-layer wind flow, American design code, and Chinese design code. The results indicate that the measured wind pressures on the model are due to the combined effects of pressure drop accompanying a tornado and flow-structure aerodynamic interaction. Both the opening ratio and large single opening azimuth influence the internal wind pressure and vertical wind force on roof structure. The low-rise building model experiences maximum wind forces when it is located at the tornado core radius. Additionally, owing to the high negative pressure drop accompanying a tornado, tornado-induced wind pressure coefficients exceed the provisions of American design code and Chinese design code by large factors.