Tornado generator
Constructed in 2016, the Birmingham tornado generator is a large scale facility in which tornado-like winds can be generated.
To date, this facility has been used to understand the wind induced forces on low-rise buildings and the particle paths undertaken by debris embedded within a tornado-like flow field.
The key features of the generator are:
- A vortex chamber of dimensions 3m by 3m.
- Top speeds of up to 10 m/s.
- Model scale between 1/1500 and 1/50
- Pressure, velocity, force and particle tracking measurements.
For additional information, please contact Professor Mark Sterling.
Tornado generator
Flow vis of cortex
Tornado simulation w/ smoke (θ=40°) @ 24 fps.
Debris embedded into flow
Polystyrene debris from house model @ 400fps.
