Abstract Tornadoes have destroyed or severely damaged a number of bridges in the USA. To prevent bridges from being severely damaged or destroyed during future tornado incidents, it is imperative to characterize the wind effects induced by tornadoes on bridges and determine the design tornadic wind loads for bridges. This project will characterize the wind effects of tornadoes on bridges using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, and modify the equations for calculating the design wind pressure on bridges.
Description "An education seminar will be held for local bridge engineers and bridge construction
contractors from surrounding cities. This seminar will emphasize the difference
between the wind effects induced by tornadic winds and straight-line winds and the
use of the modified equation to calculate the design wind pressure in order for the
bridge to be tornado-resistant. Furthermore, the COPIs and their student will present
their research findings at the TRB annual conference and publish their results in topranked journals on bridges. "
Impacts/Benefits The obtained research findings will facilitate the tornado-resistant design of new bridges. They will facilitate the reinforcement of existing bridges to be tornado-resistant. This will eventually prevent bridges from failure during tornado incidents to enhance the safety of highway or railroad bridges.
Deliverables
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Related Phases Phase I: Investigation of Wind Effects on Bridges Induced by Tornadoes for Tornado-Resistance Design – Phase I Phase III: Understanding of Bridge Vulnerability to Climate Change Enables Pro-active Adaptation Measures Phase IV: A Dynamic Hurricane Risk Modeling Framework to Improve Bridge Safety under Changing Climate