Comparison of pressure distribution on a cubical model in boundary layer and tornado-like flow fields

A Ward type tornado vortex simulator has been modified to simulate the flow inside a tornado-like vortex. The wind velocity was measured inside the simulator and the tangential velocity decay was found to be very similar to a Modified Combined Rankine Vortex. Surface pressure measurements were obtained from the floor of the simulator. A cubical model, 30 mm side, was introduced into the tornado-like vortex and pressure coefficients were estimated at different faces of the cube at three locations within the simulator. The cube was also subjected to similar velocity magnitude and angle of attacks in the atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnel. The importance of using tornado simulators to estimate wind loading on buildings and structures was highlighted by the fact that the cube experienced rapidly changing complex wind loading as compared to the cube placed inside the wind tunnel.