Florida International University Unveils Wall of Wind That Can Simulate Cat 5 Hurricane Winds
Posted on August 22, 2012
Florida International University has unveiled a 12-fan Wall of Wind, which is capable of simulating Category 5 hurricane winds up to 157 miles per hour. There is 700 horsepower behind each six-foot tall fan.
The inaugural demonstration featured two structures, one built to the code in existence when Hurricane Andrew swept through South Florida 20 years ago this week and a second built to current South Florida code. The demonstration exposed the two structures to Andrew-like rain and wind.
Arindam Chowdhury, director of wind engineering research at the IHRC, says, "This facility in many ways is part of the Andrew legacy," said Arindam Chowdhury, director of wind engineering research at the IHRC. "Here we come very close to recreating Andrew in a controlled environment so that we can help mitigate damage in our community and in all those communities in the path of hurricanes in the U.S. and around the world."
Take a look:
- Fossil of Giant Freshwater Turtle Discovered
- Hubble Observes Stormy Weather on Jupiter
- Australian Spider Named After Marvel's Venom
- NASA's JWST Captures New Views of NGC 604
- Ancient Giant Sea Lizard Had Dagger-Like Teeth