State of the Art and Research Needs in Design for Tornadoes to Improve Community Resilience: Structural Engineering Institute Workshop Report

Abstract

• Sponsored by the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE

  State of the Art and Research Needs in Design for Tornadoes to Improve Community Resilience: Structural Engineering Institute Workshop Report presents the results of the Tornado Hazard Research and Advancement to Improve Community Resilience workshop, which generated a roadmap for improvements in the understanding and characterization of tornado hazards for building design.

  Topics include specific recommendations on the following research needs:

  •	Community resilience goals for tiers of functionality,
  •	Tornado-borne debris,
  •	Improved characterization of tornado flow fields,
  •	Mean Recurrence Interval (MRI) and target reliabilities for tornadoes versus straight-line wind,
  •	Improvement of tornado windspeed estimation methods,
  •	Standards for tornado simulators,
  •	Tornado effects on building internal pressures for design,
  •	Existing buildings standards for evaluation and retrofit for wind,
  •	Combining the effect of atmospheric pressure change with external pressure coefficients, and
  •	Tornado storm shelter design standards for mechanical components.

  This report aims to assist the wind engineering community at multiple levels of government, members of academia, and members of the private sector in generating safer and more economical tornado-resistant design and improved tornado resilience for US communities. In addition, this report aids in developing new teaching materials and educational curricula for all levels of academic institutions in the United States.