Mixed Climatology, Non-synoptic Phenomena and Downburst Wind Loading of Structures

Abstract

In 1961 Davenport published a paper, considered by most the constitutive deed of Wind Engineering, where meteorology, micrometeorology, climatology, aerodynamics and structural dynamics were embedded into a homogeneous framework of the wind loading of structures. This scheme, known as the "Davenport chain" and referred to a synoptic-scale extra-tropical cyclone is so limpid and elegant as to become a sort of axiom. Between 1976 and 1978 Gomes and Vickery separated thunderstorm from non-thunderstorm winds, determined their extreme distributions and derived a mixed statistical model later extended to other phenomena; this study, a milestone in the emerging issue of mixed climatology, proved the impossibility of labelling a heterogeneous range of phenomena characterized by different velocity fields, frequencies, durations and extensions by the generic term "wind". Many of these phenomena occur in limited and well-known areas. Extra-tropical cyclones and thunderstorms affect the entire planet. This paper provides a state-of-the-art of this subject, with particular regard to the studies conducted at the University of Genova on thunderstorms.

Examination of different wall jet and impinging jet concepts to produce large-scale downburst outflow

“…Apart from causing various aircraft accidents, forest destruction, and loss of life, downbursts are the main cause of damage for many buildings every year due to strong winds and high suction pressures affecting the building facades, causing destruction on cladding elements, flying of projectile debris, and thousands of roof blow-offs (Abd-Elaal et al, 2018). Nevertheless, transmission power lines and towers are the type of structures that suffer the most (Solari, 2018), with several hundred failures, collapses that leave behind a trail of economic devastation. However, limited research has been focused on understanding the interaction between extreme downburst winds and structures.…”

Thunderstorm Downbursts and Wind Loading of Structures: Progress and Prospect

“…The conclusions and prospects are given in section Conclusions and Prospects. In its entirety, this paper provides a substantial extension and generalization of the contents of a lecture delivered by the author at the 15th International Conference of the Italian Association for Wind Engineering (Solari, 2019a).…”