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

tornado-generator

 

tornado-generator2

Flow vis of cortex

Debris embedded into flow