Laboratory simulation of steady tornadic wind loads on structures

Ward's tornado simulator has been modified to study the interaction of tornadic flowfields with structures. Measurements with and without swirl have been made of the pressure on the surface of a cylindrical model and a rectangular model placed in the simulator. The cylindrical model, intended to represent the containment building of a nuclear reactor, is a circular cylinder 17.1 cm high and 11.4 cm in diameter with a hemispherical roof. The rectangular model, intended to represent the turbine building of a nuclear power plant, is a rectangular prism 12.7 cm high with a planform 14.6 cm by 25.4 cm. Results are presented for the surface pressure coefficient and the total force and moments coefficients for imposed swirl angles of 00 and 450, with the models placed at three locations within the simulator: (1) the convergent zone, (2) the boundary of the convergent zone and convection zone, and (3) the convection zone