National Academies Press: OpenBook

Review of the Need for a Large-Scale Test Facility for Research on the Effects of Extreme Winds on Structures (1999)

Chapter: B Questionnaire, Respondents, and Synthesis of Responses

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Suggested Citation:"B Questionnaire, Respondents, and Synthesis of Responses." National Research Council. 1999. Review of the Need for a Large-Scale Test Facility for Research on the Effects of Extreme Winds on Structures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/6458.
×

B Questionnaire, Respondents, and Synthesis of Responses

Questionnaire

The National Research Council, through the Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment, has been requested by the Department of Energy to assess the need for a wind testing facility capable of subjecting full-scale, non-engineered structures (such as homes and small commercial buildings) to extreme wind conditions. This assessment must be completed by March 1, 1999. In order to assist the panel conducting the assessment, we are soliciting the views of a broad segment of those concerned with the effects of extreme winds on non-engineered structures.

The task of the panel is to:

  • review the need for a large-scale experimental wind engineering facility
  • identify the potential benefits of such a facility
  • assess the priority for large-scale physical testing as a component of a national wind engineering research program

To assist them in addressing their task, the panel requests your input on the following questions:

    1)  

    What is the need for large-scale experimental data in gaining scientific understanding of the effects of extreme wind events on non-engineered structures?

    2)  

    What are the benefits of generating data on extreme wind events in a controlled environment, rather than collecting field data in natural wind or performing post-storm inspections?

    3)  

    What is the value of data produced by large-scale, full-system testing vs. small-scale or component testing?

    4)  

    What is the value of large-scale testing to develop and validate computer simulations, as a vehicle for public education, to validate current building code prescriptive standards, and to aid in the design of credible standardized small-scale or single component tests?

    Suggested Citation:"B Questionnaire, Respondents, and Synthesis of Responses." National Research Council. 1999. Review of the Need for a Large-Scale Test Facility for Research on the Effects of Extreme Winds on Structures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/6458.
    ×

      5)  

      What would be the cost of generating data in a facility capable of subjecting full-scale, non-engineered structures to extreme winds, relative to the costs of collecting data from full-scale tests in natural wind, small-scale or component testing, or performing post-storm inspections?

      6)  

      Given the relative costs of the various data collection methods and the relative value of the data each produces, which methods represent the most cost-effective ways of improving the scientific understanding of the effects of extreme winds on non-engineered structures?

      7)  

      Which industries would be the most likely to use a facility capable of testing full-scale structures in a controlled environment and to what extent are they likely to use it?

      Your response to these questions may be as detailed and lengthy as you wish but please try to highlight your critical points. The panel will hold its first meeting in mid-November and it would be most helpful if you could respond by October 30, 1998.

      Please respond by fax to (202) 334-3370 or by email to mporterf@nas.edu.

      Name:

      Title:

      Organization:

      Address:

      Phone:

      Fax:

      e.mail:

      Suggested Citation:"B Questionnaire, Respondents, and Synthesis of Responses." National Research Council. 1999. Review of the Need for a Large-Scale Test Facility for Research on the Effects of Extreme Winds on Structures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/6458.
      ×

      Respondents

      Vince A. Amatucci

      Senior Member of Technical Staff

      Aerosciences and Compressible Fluid Mechanics Department

      Sandia National Laboratories

      Albuquerque, New Mexico

      Maurice Bazin

      Deputy Director

      Large Technical Facilities Office National d'Etudes et de Recherches

      Aerospatiales

      Paris, France

      Joseph Golden

      Senior Meteorologist

      National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

      Silver Spring, Maryland

      Michael J. Griffin

      Technical Manager Associate

      EQE International

      St. Louis, Missouri

      George Housner

      Carl F. Braun Professor of Engineering, Emeritus

      California Institute of Technology

      Pasadena, California

      Bonnie Johnson

      Director

      Aerodynamic Laboratories

      National Institute for Aviation Research

      Wichita State University

      Wichita, Kansas

      Atul L. Khanduri

      Senior Engineer

      Risk Management Solutions, Inc.

      Menlo Park, California

      Richard D. Marshall

      Retired

      Building and Fire Research Laboratory

      National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

      Gaithersburg, Maryland

      Jorge L. Martinez

      Director

      Low Speed Wind Tunnel

      Texas Engineering Experiment Station

      Aerospace Engineering Division

      Texas A&M University

      College Station, Texas

      Jim McDonald

      Department Chair

      Civil Engineering

      Texas Tech University

      Lubbock, Texas

      Kishor Mehta

      Director

      Wind Engineering Research Center

      Texas Tech University

      Lubbock, Texas

      Jim Merva

      Technical Underwriting Director

      St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company

      Saint Paul, Minnesota

      Eugene E. Niemi, Jr.

      Professor

      University of Massachusetts-Lowell

      Lowell, Massachusetts

      Mark Perry

      Lead Projects Engineer

      Lockheed Martin Low Speed Wind Tunnel

      Smyrna, Georgia

      Suggested Citation:"B Questionnaire, Respondents, and Synthesis of Responses." National Research Council. 1999. Review of the Need for a Large-Scale Test Facility for Research on the Effects of Extreme Winds on Structures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/6458.
      ×

      Jon Peterka
      Vice President
      Cermak Peterka Petersen, Inc.
      Wind Engineering Consultants
      Fort Collins, Colorado


      Emil Simiu
      NIST Fellow
      Building and Fire Research Laboratory
      National Institute of Standards and Technology
      Gaithersburg, Maryland


      Dave Surry
      Research Director
      Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory
      University of Western Ontario
      London, Ontario
      Canada


      Terry C. Taylor
      Principal Consulting Engineer
      Haag Engineering
      Houston, Texas


      Henry Tieleman
      Professor Emeritus
      Engineering Science and Mechanics
      Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
      Blacksburg, Virginia


      Christian O. Unanwa
      Assistant Professor
      South Carolina State University
      Orangeburg, South Carolina


      George R. Walker
      Operations Director-Strategic Development
      Aon Re Australia
      Sydney, Australia


      Pete Zell
      Ames Research Center
      National Aeronautics and Space Administration
      Moffett Field, California

      Synthesis of Responses

      Twenty-two people responded to the questionnaires. The respondents, in general, indicated that full-scale or large-scale testing is important and that a large-scale facility could be a useful tool in wind engineering research. There was no agreement among them on whether or not a large-scale facility was necessary to obtain important data or if other testing methods (e.g. full-scale testing in natural wind) could provide the same information. Several of them indicated that interdisciplinary, coordinated research will be necessary to mitigate wind-related losses and that no facility should be established except as part of a well conceived national program. The respondents highlighted many benefits of a facility capable of testing large-scale structures in a simulated extreme wind environment, but they expressed concerns about the capability of such a facility to simulate the characteristics of the natural wind, as well as the potential costs, both startup and maintenance costs, of such a facility. In addition, some respondents noted that there are many large wind tunnels in this country that, with modification, might provide badly needed data and that these options should be fully explored before significant funds are devoted to the construction of a new facility.

      Suggested Citation:"B Questionnaire, Respondents, and Synthesis of Responses." National Research Council. 1999. Review of the Need for a Large-Scale Test Facility for Research on the Effects of Extreme Winds on Structures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/6458.
      ×

      Below are summaries of the responses to each question.

      1) What is the need for large-scale experimental data in gaining scientific understanding of the effects of extreme wind events on non-engineered structures?

      In general, the respondents indicated that there is a need for large-scale experimental data to help the public understand the relationship between wind speeds and wind damage. The misrepresentation of wind speeds in past extreme wind events may have misled the public about the destructive power of extreme winds. In addition, large-scale data could be useful for calibrating and validating small-scale or component tests.

      There was no consensus among the respondents as to whether or not a facility for research on the effects of extreme wind conditions on structures is necessary to obtain this data. Some respondents expressed concerns about the ability of such a facility to simulate wind flows and loading from small-scale vortices like tornadoes. Others expressed concerns about cost and the number of users for such a facility. Some equivalent data could be obtained more cheaply by other methods, such as measurements of wind loads, which can be made with existing facilities. However, no existing facility is capable of large-scale destructive testing, and there is a very low probability of destructive force winds hitting an instrumented structure in the field.

      Some respondents felt that conclusions from an ensemble of full-scale studies were likely to be significantly more valuable than those reached from any individual experiment. They also stressed the importance of coordinated national research programs.

      2) What are the benefits of generating data on extreme wind events in a controlled environment, rather than collecting field data in natural wind or performing post-storm inspections?

      The respondents were in general agreement that a well planned, full-scale facility capable of capturing the characteristics of natural wind has some distinct advantages over collecting field data in natural wind or performing post-storm inspections. The most common benefit highlighted by the respondents was the potential ability for quick results through experimental control. With a full-scale facility, there would be no waiting for the "big one" to hit the instrumented structure. The level of control over wind velocity, temperature, barometric pressure, and other variables would be much greater in a wind simulation facility than in natural wind. Additional advantages include the ease of instrumenting and observing the behavior of the test structure. Another important benefit of a full-scale facility is the capability of repeating test conditions.

      Many respondents again pointed out that no single data collection method would be adequate, and that an interdisciplinary approach would be necessary.

      3) What is the value of data produced by large-scale, full-system testing vs. small-scale or component testing?

      Although respondents highlighted many benefits of full-scale testing over small-scale or component testing, they also pointed out that tests at all scales have significant and complementary value and should be a part of an integrated national program. Full-scale testing can reveal some of the more subtle aspects of fluid mechanics and eliminate some difficult

      Suggested Citation:"B Questionnaire, Respondents, and Synthesis of Responses." National Research Council. 1999. Review of the Need for a Large-Scale Test Facility for Research on the Effects of Extreme Winds on Structures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/6458.
      ×

      scaling issues, such as how to scale material properties. In addition, full-scale testing would allow for the determination of correct natural frequencies of structural systems and enable the study of aerodynamic and structural interactions and end or boundary fixity conditions between components that cannot be easily simulated by testing one piece at a time. The proposed facility would enable studies of progressive damage to failure so that the wind speeds associated with the onset of specific damage could be determined.

      A full-scale testing facility could be good publicity and increase public awareness of the dangers posed by winds, provided the characteristics of extreme winds were adequately simulated and the costs of the facility were not so extreme that it would negatively affect public opinion about artificial destructive testing.

      4) What is the value of large-scale testing to develop and validate computer simulations, as a vehicle for public education, to validate current building code prescriptive standards, and to aid in the design of credible standardized small-scale or single component tests?

      The respondents indicated that it is clearly necessary to validate computer simulations, building codes, and small-scale or component tests. If a large-scale facility could properly model the natural wind, it might contribute to these validations. The question raised by many respondents, however, is whether or not there are more cost-effective ways to validate methods. It was suggested, for example, that computer simulations can be validated by field measurements and that code verification can be done with laboratory experiments.

      The use of a large-scale facility as a vehicle for public education was also a point of debate among the respondents. While many believed that it would be educational and useful for people to see video footage of structures being blown apart in a facility, others argued that footage from actual events, during or after storms, sends a much stronger message than "fake" destruction. Others indicated that they felt there were equally effective and less expensive ways to educate the public.

      5) What would be the cost of generating data in a facility capable of subjecting full-scale, non-engineered structures to extreme winds, relative to the costs of collecting data from full-scale tests in natural wind, small-scale or component testing, or performing post-storm inspections?

      In general, the respondents seemed to be in agreement that a large-scale facility would be extremely expensive to build and operate. Many agreed that many other projects could be funded for the price of constructing a facility of this type. However, as one respondent pointed out, the costs of rebuilding non-engineered structures after a storm are also very large, and these costs should be considered when budgeting for wind engineering research. Even though the facility would be expensive, getting some data, especially failure data, through other means (e.g. full-scale testing to destruction in natural wind) would be virtually impossible. Paying large sums of money for unique, high-quality data may be appropriate and necessary for effectively mitigating wind-hazards.

      Several respondents pointed out that scaling is difficult in small-scale (especially destructive) testing, but that small-scale and component tests have been beneficial in the past and would continue to be so. Large-scale, full-system testing may have advantages over component testing because the aerodynamic interactions between various components could be studied. One

      Suggested Citation:"B Questionnaire, Respondents, and Synthesis of Responses." National Research Council. 1999. Review of the Need for a Large-Scale Test Facility for Research on the Effects of Extreme Winds on Structures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/6458.
      ×

      respondent pointed out the advantages of full-scale testing over post-storm inspections, which may not yield accurate data because they are subjective and because recording devices capable of accurately depicting structure-level wind conditions throughout the storm are not readily available. Given this current lack of ground-level wind data during extreme wind events, it might be premature to construct a simulation facility, especially given the fact that other methods (e.g. full-scale field and component testing) have been beneficial in the past.

      6) Given the relative costs of the various data collection methods and the relative value of the data each produces, which methods represent the most cost-effective ways of improving the scientific understanding of the effects of extreme winds on non-engineered structures?

      There was a wide range of opinions about which method of testing is most cost-effective. Several respondents indicated that they felt that a full-scale test facility would be the most cost-effective data collection method, while others argued that the enormous start-up and maintenance costs of such a facility would put it out of reach of anyone except the government. Some pointed out that post-storm surveys are a relatively inexpensive way of collecting data about existing structures and should be continued.

      During severe storms, many structures are exposed to winds of similar magnitude simultaneously, and good comparisons can be made of different construction techniques. Other respondents indicated that small-scale tests have been valuable in the past and can continue to contribute to the knowledge base. Well planned small-scale testing with a few carefully executed full-scale or large-scale studies could greatly improve our understanding of wind effects on structures. They also pointed out that a number of facilities in the United States (e.g. wind tunnels at NASA Ames Research Center) might be adaptable for large-scale testing on wind effects on structures.

      7) Which industries would be the most likely to use a facility capable of testing full-scale structures in a controlled environment and to what extent are they likely to use it?

      Respondents suggested that the customer base would depend on the flexibility of the facility, the perceived realism of the wind simulation, and the cost per experiment. Serious concerns were raised by some respondents about whether or not anyone, except possibly the government, would have the financial resources to support full-scale or large-scale testing in such a facility. Possible customers that were suggested include:

      • insurance industry
      • government agencies
      • construction industry
      • prefabricated building industry
      • educational institutions
      • building code developers
      • code enforcement authorities
      • risk management companies
      • roofing, component, and cladding companies
      Suggested Citation:"B Questionnaire, Respondents, and Synthesis of Responses." National Research Council. 1999. Review of the Need for a Large-Scale Test Facility for Research on the Effects of Extreme Winds on Structures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/6458.
      ×
      Page 33
      Suggested Citation:"B Questionnaire, Respondents, and Synthesis of Responses." National Research Council. 1999. Review of the Need for a Large-Scale Test Facility for Research on the Effects of Extreme Winds on Structures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/6458.
      ×
      Page 34
      Suggested Citation:"B Questionnaire, Respondents, and Synthesis of Responses." National Research Council. 1999. Review of the Need for a Large-Scale Test Facility for Research on the Effects of Extreme Winds on Structures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/6458.
      ×
      Page 35
      Suggested Citation:"B Questionnaire, Respondents, and Synthesis of Responses." National Research Council. 1999. Review of the Need for a Large-Scale Test Facility for Research on the Effects of Extreme Winds on Structures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/6458.
      ×
      Page 36
      Suggested Citation:"B Questionnaire, Respondents, and Synthesis of Responses." National Research Council. 1999. Review of the Need for a Large-Scale Test Facility for Research on the Effects of Extreme Winds on Structures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/6458.
      ×
      Page 37
      Suggested Citation:"B Questionnaire, Respondents, and Synthesis of Responses." National Research Council. 1999. Review of the Need for a Large-Scale Test Facility for Research on the Effects of Extreme Winds on Structures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/6458.
      ×
      Page 38
      Suggested Citation:"B Questionnaire, Respondents, and Synthesis of Responses." National Research Council. 1999. Review of the Need for a Large-Scale Test Facility for Research on the Effects of Extreme Winds on Structures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/6458.
      ×
      Page 39
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      The Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), has proposed that a large-scale wind test facility (LSWTF) be constructed to study, in full-scale, the behavior of low-rise structures under simulated extreme wind conditions. To determine the need for, and potential benefits of, such a facility, the Idaho Operations Office of the DOE requested that the National Research Council (NRC) perform an independent assessment of the role and potential value of an LSWTF in the overall context of wind engineering research. The NRC established the Committee to Review the Need for a Large-scale Test Facility for Research on the Effects of Extreme Winds on Structures, under the auspices of the Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment, to perform this assessment. This report conveys the results of the committee's deliberations as well as its findings and recommendations.

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