Elawady and his team studied the extensive damage from a Houston derecho on several tall buildings. They discovered that wind-channeling effects caused by nearby skyscrapers intensified damage. Using wind tunnel experiments, they demonstrated that high wind speeds could bounce off buildings, increasing pressure and resulting in greater damage than isolated structures would experience. This phenomenon was particularly evident in buildings like the Chevron Building Auditorium, where cladding and windows were severely affected, highlighting the vulnerabilities of urban architecture during severe weather events.
When strong winds move through a city, they can bounce due to interference between tall buildings. This increases pressure on walls and windows, making damage more severe than if the buildings were isolated.
The channeling effects intensified the damage, particularly at higher elevations, making the structural integrity of urban buildings more vulnerable during extreme weather events.
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