Study on wind load characteristics of stadium under tornado

Area of Science:

• Structural Engineering
• Aerodynamics
• Meteorology

Background:

• Stadiums are susceptible to significant damage from tornado-induced wind loads.
• Understanding tornado wind effects is crucial for stadium structural integrity and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the wind load characteristics of stadiums under tornado conditions.
• To identify the most vulnerable locations and critical factors influencing stadium damage.
• To provide data for enhancing disaster prevention and mitigation strategies in stadium design.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a Ward tornado generating device to simulate tornado wind loads.
• Employed computational methods to analyze wind pressure coefficients, wind speed distribution, and vorticity.
• Validated simulation accuracy by comparing results with experimental data.

Main Results:

• Determined the influence of swirl ratio, ground roughness, and wind profiles on wind pressure, wind speed, and vorticity.
• Identified specific stadium areas most vulnerable to tornado damage.
• Quantified the impact of varying ground roughness and wind profiles on aerodynamic forces.

Conclusions:

• Tornado wind characteristics significantly affect stadium structural loads and vulnerability.
• Swirl ratio, ground roughness, and wind profile are key factors in tornado-induced stadium damage.
• The findings offer valuable insights for designing more resilient stadium structures against extreme weather events.