Wave-shaped walls and roofs cut hurricane wind pressure by up to 60%

Researchers at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering tested 3D-printed wind tunnel models of low-rise buildings with wave-shaped exterior walls and roofs. At wave amplitudes equal to 10% of building height, peak wind pressures near roof and wall corners dropped 40% to 60% regardless of wind direction. The study was published in Engineering Structures.

• Wave amplitude of 10% of building height cut peak wind pressure by 40-60%
• Wave geometry breaks one large vortex into many smaller separation zones
• The approach is passive and needs no extra material or reinforcement
• Tests ran in a wind tunnel with wind from multiple directions