Determination of load differences between straight winds and tornadoes in the windEEE dome

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Thunderstorm wind systems such as tornadoes and downbursts account for approx. 65% of the total wind damage to buildings and structures in continental North America. These wind systems have not been yet accounted in design practice. The WindEEE Dome at Western University is a novel wind testing facility that can, for the first time, produce and translate tornado-like vortices at scales of the order of 1/100 of real tornadoes (or approx. 5 meters in diameter). WindEEE is developing methods to reproduce tornadoes representatives of several Fujita Scales (between EF0 and EF4) by matching full scale data measured in real tornadoes by Mobile Doppler Radars. WindEEE is therefore developing a unique capacity to provide testing capabilities for buildings and structures to tornado winds. A multi-phase program is proposed in collaboration with FM Global in order to determine tornado loading on important public and industrial buildings. Several generic buildings geometries will be designed and tested in both conventional straight winds and in tornadic winds. The research will investigate the differences in wind loading between these two types of wind system as well as differences in the risk associated with these events. The outcomes will be directed towards code implementations, potential building retrofit and better design practices in Canada and North America.