Establish a design procedure for thunderstorm/downburst winds based on a web-enabled enhanced gust effects factor framework

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded a $394,577 Cooperative Agreement to the University of Notre Dame DU Lac's Notre Dame Research Division on January 15, 2024 under the Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards (CFDA 11.609) program. The purpose of this grant is to establish a web-enabled framework for a design procedure that accurately represents the modification in wind loading due to thunderstorm downbursts and their transient features. Key activities include conducting systematic experimental exploration in a wind tunnel to quantify the enhancement in wind loads caused by transient aerodynamics, and validating a wind dynamic model with the experimental data to potentially provide a digital twin. The expected outcome is a plug-and-play platform to support collaborative research and further validation/refinement of the enhanced gust effects factor framework as additional data becomes available.

Purpose

The purpose of this grant is to establish a design procedure for thunderstorm/downburst winds based on a web-enabled enhanced gust effects factor framework.

Activities

An accurate representation of the modification in wind loading due to downbursts and their transient features will be captured by a systematic experimental exploration over a range of transient gust front profiles produced in a unique wind tunnel facility at the university of florida. This data will be used to standardize the enhancement in wind loads due to transient aerodynamics, and quantify load sensitivity to individual flow field parameters such as the vertical velocity profile and the rise time in gust front manifestation. An accompanying wind dynamic model will be validated with experimental data at full and model scales of these downburst load effects to potentially provide a digital twin.

Expected outcomes

The web-enabled framework will serve as a plug-and-play platform to support collaborative research and help further validate/refine the enhanced gust effects factor framework as additional data become available.

Intended beneficiaries

Local residents, businesses, and communities subject to building damage by earthquake events.

Subrecipient activities

The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.