Instrumentation, experiments, and procedures at the WERFL field site

On October 1, 1986, the Xational Science Foundation awarded Texas Tech University a grant (original NSF grant CES 8611601. first additional NSF grant #BCS8821163. present NSF grant # CMS9409869) to conduct research in the area of wind pressures on building surfaces in the field, to advance the understanding of uind effects on low rise structures. To this end, researchers at Texas Tech designed a unique experimental facility that combines the best features of previous field experiments with advanced instrumentation and computer technology. The Wind Engineering Research Field Laboratory (WERFL) became operational in 1989 (Levitan et al. 1991). In an attempt to obtain reliable full-scale wind pressure data, this unique structure w as created to pursue research in wind pressures on building surfaces, internal pressures, performance of roofing, ventilation and exhaust studies. This work is very important, as approximately 2/3 of the building stock in the United States is low-rise construction, much of which lies in high wind regions (WERC. 1996). In 1978 it was estimated that the total economic monetary loss, by the year 2000. due to wind-induced damage in this countn. w ould be close to eight billion dollars (Wiggins. 1978). Between 1986 and 1995, the cumulative insured catastrophic losses in the United States totaled S78.5 billion (WERC. 1996). Of these total losses approximately 70c/c were caused by wind events. Hence, understanding the nature of wind-induced pressures on low-rise buildings will help Civil Engineers to design safer, more wind resistant, and economical buildings.