Article

Summoning the storm, at the Wind Engineering, Energy and Environment Research Facility

By simulating intense winds and weather, a research facility at Western University tests how buildings will hold up under catastrophic conditions

Sharon Oosthoek

Western University

Ontario

Nature

Atmospheric Science

A white swirl of air inside a large enclosure.

A vertical column of white air directed at a model neighbourhood inside a large enclosure.

All over the world, there are bridges, transmission lines, houses and high-rises that have stood the test of time, thanks in part to research at Western University’s Wind Engineering, Energy and Environment Research Facility (WindEEE). That includes some iconic structures — the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the CN Tower for example.

WindEEE is the only facility in Canada with a wind dome that can generate tornadoes and downbursts, as well as large weather systems such as hurricanes, in a controlled environment. This lets researchers test and understand the effects of weather and climate change on the infrastructure we rely on in our daily lives.

An elongated pool of water enclosed between solid walls with a model of an oil rig in the middle of the water.

WindEEE includes two additional facilities — one to test the effects of wind and waves, and another affectionately dubbed “Three Little Pigs,” for testing the effects of varying wind loads on full-scale houses, up until they fall apart.

“We destroy things step by step and document which part is strong and which is weak,” says WindEEE director Girma Bitsuamlak. “That way we know what to optimize and what to strengthen. This is going to become even more important because of climate change — we are observing increased risks from tornadoes and hurricanes.”