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NSF PA/M 96-39 - September 23, 1996
Hurricane Research:
Engineers Seek Secrets to Safer Structures
"Blow winds, and crack your cheeks!" -- King
Lear
Hurricanes and other wind storms injure and kill, and cause billions
of dollars in property damage every year across the U.S. According to
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hurricane Andrew in 1992 cost
$30 billion and claimed 18 lives; Hurricane Hugo in 1989, $8 billion and
82 lives. Under the right - or wrong - situation, homes, offices, schools
and other buildings can be literally blown away by forces of nature. Engineers
and scientists seek more knowledge of construction designs and materials,
the interaction of wind and structures, and the
structure of wind itself.
The National Science Foundation's civil engineering program provides
federal funds to study the effects of severe wind (and quakes and floods)
on buildings, bridges, power lines, communication systems and other critical
components of our nation's civil infrastructure, with the goal of developing
structures and systems that survive better when disaster strikes.
At NSF, contact:
- Elenora Sabadell, (703) 306-1362 (esabadel@nsf.gov) She oversees
the civil engineering research division's efforts to mitigate damage
caused by natural and technological disasters.
- George Chartier, (703) 306-1070 (gchartie@nsf.gov) Public affairs
officer for Engineering programs.
Some examples of wind-resisting civil engineering research funded by
NSF:
- Ahsam Kareem, University of Notre Dame (219) 631-6648
(kareem@navier.ce.nd.edu)
President of the American Association for Wind Engineering.
He studies the behavior and effects of wind storms on buildings, bridges and
other structures, and heads an organization to determine where further research
is needed. He works with computer simulation and wind tunnel modeling of wind
effects on structures, and he is developing a robotic arm wind load simulator
to shake building models like a wind storm does. He is also studying motion
control devices in tall, flexible buildings and bridges.
- Timothy Reinhold, Clemson University (864) 656-5941
(tim.reinhold@ces.clemson.edu)
He uses wind tunnels and building models to develop a clearer understanding
of wind loads and wind effects. He also directs research on the performance
of building components and connnections. He is especially interested in the
effects of winds on low-rise buildings.
- Robert Meroney, Colorado State University (970) 491-8574
(meroney@lance.colostate.edu)
- Harold Cochrane, Colorado State University (970) 491-6493
(hcochrane@vines.colostate.edu)
- Kishor Mehta, Texas Tech University (806) 742-3479 ext.323
(fmkcm@ttacs.ttu.edu)
These researchers are collaborating with an NSF grant
supporting the U.S. Cooperative Wind Engineering Program. Studies focus on
wind
load, wind engineering meterology (especially thunderstorm winds) and
wind flow around low-rise buildings.
Dr. Cochrane and his staff have
developed computer programs to calculate direct/indirect costs to a
community when a natural hazard disaster
occurs.
- Ahmad Namini, University of Miami (305) 284-3457
(anamini@umiami.miami.edu)
Data from post-disaster investigation on Hurricane Andrew includes loss assessment
and analysis of crisis management.
- Berrin Tansel, Florida International University (305) 348-2928
(tansel@eng.fiu.edu)
Her project seeks to identify and analyze the structural debris generated
after Hurricane Andrew, along with the social, technical and institutional
problems resulting from debris removal and disposal. Goal: Information to
help mitigate the magnitude and effects of this debris.
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