Full-scale Investigations on Wind Characteristics during Normal and Extreme Winds
The annual average number of tropical cyclones occurring all over the world is around 92. The Indian ocean is one of the six major tropical cyclone prone regions of the world. Every year, four to five tropical cyclones occur in the Indian ocean, 80% of which cross the east coast of India. A large number of buildings and structures, including some well-engineered structures, have been reported to be damaged during tropical cyclones.The characteristics of tropical cyclone winds are quite different from those of normal winds.This stresses the need to study the various characteristics of tropical cyclone winds. CSIR-SERC has carried out many full-scale field investigations on wind characteristics during normal and extreme wind conditions using propeller anemometers and sonic anemometers.
- Based on these investigations, the turbulence intensities are observed to be more during cyclone wind conditions than those under normal wind conditions. Hence, the gust velocity factor values are also more during cyclone wind conditions.
- Further, some of the extreme wind conditions indicated non-Gaussian and non-Stationary characteristics also.
- During one of the cyclone wind condition, the turbulence wind spectrum indicated higher energy levels in high frequency region than the conventional turbulence spectrum.
