Thunderstorm wind load evaluation on storm shelters using wind tunnel testing

Ghazal, Tarek; Aboutabikh, Moustafa; Aboshosha, Haitham; Abdelwahab, Mohamed

doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2022.114350

Cited by 13 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…It is worth mentioning that thunderstorm speeds shown in Figure 5.5a represent speeds averaged over 40 seconds, which matches the duration employed to scale the aerodynamic forces in the previous WT test by Ghazal et al (2021a). The 40 seconds represents ~ Tshed, where Tshed is the typical period of the shedding vortex associated with the downdraft and is recommended by multiple researchers , Chen and Letchford 2004, Kim and Hangan 2007, Selvam and Holmes 1992, Solari 2020.…”

Section: Climate Analysismentioning

confidence: 98%

Wind Tunnel Testing on Low Rise Bunkie Structures and Its Application as Affordable Storm Shelters

Ghazal

2024

Preprint

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In Canada, the number of wind-related damage to structures and losses in lives keeps increasing due to climate change. Residents of rural areas are more exposed to those fatalities due to the lack of storm shelters. Storm shelters can provide reliable protection to people during high-intensity wind events and can also be used during the re-construction phase. Currently, people in rural areas use Bunkie structures for guest accommodation and equipment storage only. However, it would be beneficial if those structures could also be used as storm shelters during extreme wind events. This dissertation focuses on wind tunnel testing of common Bunkie structures used in Ontario to assess their aerodynamic performance under boundary layer and downburst flows, to be used as storm shelters. First, a turbulence generating system was developed at Ryerson University wind tunnel in order to model boundary layer flows encountered in sparse and built environments (i.e., open, suburban, and urban). This was designed by employing Computational Fluid Dynamics Large-Eddy simulations, followed by validation tests at Ryerson University wind tunnel. This system was also used to develop a downburst generating system consisting of multiple rotating louvers to model downburst outflows. Subsequently, wind tunnel testing for the three commonly used Bunkie shapes in Ontario was conducted under both boundary layer and downburst wind fields. This led to an aerodynamic database that consists of force and moment coefficients for Bunkiestructures forboth wind fields. The databaseforboundarylayer flowswas usedto compare between experimental results and North American design codes (i.e., NBCC 2015, and ASCE 716). Moreover, the developed database was coupled with the climate analysis in Southern Ontario to quantify the actual forces and moments on Bunkie structures seen during boundary layer and downburst events. Then, Finite Element models were developed to study the behavior of the Bunkie structures and evaluate their potential usage as storm shelters. Finally, potential retrofitting solutions were suggested to strengthen Bunkie structures to resist high-intensity wind events.

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Section: Climate Analysismentioning

confidence: 98%

Wind Tunnel Testing on Low Rise Bunkie Structures and Its Application as Affordable Storm Shelters

Ghazal

2024

Preprint

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“…This wind tunnel has recently been conditioned using two systems to simulate synoptic and non-synoptic winds. The first system consists of spires with multiple slats and is used to generate synoptic boundary layer winds (Ghazal, et al 2020). The second system consists of rotatable louvers that generate the downburst outflows and gust fronts (Aboutabikh, et al 2019).…”

Section: Wind Institute 2019)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…RUWT uses two systems to create synoptic and non-synoptic winds. The first one can generate synoptic boundary layer winds using spires with multiple slats (Ghazal, et al 2020). The second system can simulate the downburst outflows and gust fronts using rotatable louvers (Aboutabikh, et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing a Wide-Angle Velocity Probe for Characterizing Tornado Wind Field

Elgamal¹

2023

Preprint

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<p>This study focuses on designing and calibrating a proof-of-concept low-cost velocity probe capable of characterizing complex turbulent flow fields, such as tornadic vortices, acting at a wide range of angles of attack. In the first part of the study, a spherical probe was 3D printed and instrumented in-house. The probe was designed with 16 holes allowing for 140° range of measurement. Experimental tests were conducted in Ryerson University Wind Tunnel. A mathematical model was developed to account for different angles of attack, including flow impingement between the holes. The probe could predict mean velocities, flow direction and turbulence intensities with average errors of 8%, 9° and 0.6% respectively. In the second part, a revision to the probe design was applied by considering a chamfered version with 16 polyhedral faces. The revised probe was investigated using Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) employing Large Eddy Simulation (LES) modeling. The revised probe showed an overall 50% increase in the accuracy compared with the spherical shape, which brought probe accuracy to the acceptable levels suitable for wind engineering applications.</p>

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Heat Transfer Analysis of Full-Scale Safe Rooms Exposed to Bushfire Conditions

Hendawitharana,

Ariyanayagam,

Mahendran

2023

Fire Technol

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Sheltering in place is identified as an accepted behaviour during disasters while safe rooms are purpose-built buildings used for sheltering or storage of valuables under these circumstances. However, ensuring the integrity of safe rooms in bushfires is complex and challenging due to many factors. This study aims to advance the understanding of the bushfire fire heat transfer in steel framed bushfire safe rooms using a numerical modelling approach. Both small-scale models of individual external walls and full-scale models of safe rooms were developed and validated using the results of an experimental study of a full-scale safe room. Then the study was extended to address the identified challenges in the design of safe rooms influenced by the factors such as, the fire exposed area, internal compartment arrangement, location of the safe room in the bushfire-prone areas, and the external environmental temperatures during summer on the tenability requirements. The results of this study provide considerable details of the performance of above-ground bushfire safe rooms detached from the associated dwelling under realistic fire conditions. They showed that the integrity of the doors is very important and that having multiple internal compartments is favourable for the bushfire performance of safe rooms. This study shows that safe rooms can be constructed using available building materials to satisfy the bushfire heat transfer requirements and provides conditions for their usage. Furthermore, the modelling methods emphasise their applicability to evaluate safe rooms and modular buildings in bushfire and building fire related scenarios.

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Thunderstorm wind load evaluation on storm shelters using wind tunnel testing

Cited by 13 publications

References 37 publications

Wind Tunnel Testing on Low Rise Bunkie Structures and Its Application as Affordable Storm Shelters

Wind Tunnel Testing on Low Rise Bunkie Structures and Its Application as Affordable Storm Shelters

Developing a Wide-Angle Velocity Probe for Characterizing Tornado Wind Field

Heat Transfer Analysis of Full-Scale Safe Rooms Exposed to Bushfire Conditions

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