Building to cope with tropical cyclones
Wednesday, March 4th, 2009 by LianneBrownThe northern Queensland coast is prone to major tropical storms and cyclones. Tropical Cyclone Althea struck the Townsville region on Christmas Eve 1971, causing extensive property damage and disruption to the community.
In more recent years, Tropical Cyclone Larry crossed the tropical north Queensland coast near Innisfail in March 2006, and although no lives were lost, damage to infrastructure and crops was valued at around half a billion dollars.
Three years after Tropical Cyclone Althea, Tropical Cyclone Tracy caused significant damage to houses in Darwin, leading to industry and government recognising the need for a better approach for the design of buildings and other structures in cyclone-prone regions. This led to the establishment in 1977 of the Cyclone Testing Station associated with JCU’s School of Engineering.
For more than 30 years, the Cyclone Testing Station has provided independent advice to industry and government on the effects of severe winds on structures such as low-rise domestic and industrial buildings. This advice has also been incorporated in design codes and standards for buildings and their components in Australia and overseas, and has resulted in new buildings being able to cope better with tropical cyclones.
Under the guidance of research director Dr John Ginger, the Cyclone Testing Station leads engineering research into wind effects on structures. Research includes wind load effects and response of building components such as roof cladding, timber trusses, ceiling and internal wall linings, fatigue failure of light gauge building components and the vulnerability of buildings.
The Station simulates wind loads on full-scale buildings and their components, and at model scale in its wind tunnel. In addition, it makes use of computational analytical methods.
It communicates directly with its benefactors which include state and local governments, insurance and building supply companies. The Station’s research has influenced the State Government policy on storm tide mitigation and contributes to the prevention of catastrophic loss of life and property.