Roof and Wall Vents Study under Simulated Hurricane Winds

• Main Author: Kawade, Peeyush S.
• Format: Others
• Published: FIU Digital Commons 2009
• Subjects: Hurricane; Wall of wind; 6- fan wall of wind; International Hurricane research centre; Different type of Vents; Roof Structure; Loads on Wall and Vents; Drag Coefficient; Lift Coefficient.
• Online Access: http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/255; http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1322&context=etd

Ventilation might seem like a minor consideration, but when properly installed, it can extend the life of the attic and roof structure of residential buildings saving huge dollar amounts in repair costs. The objectives of this study were to measure the wind effect on different kind of vents as the problem is vents are subjected to high wind loads during hurricane events and often fail causing water penetration and damage of interior contents. Wind-induced failure of rooftop vents during a hurricane may result in large openings in the roof that will allow water to penetrate into the building, a puncturing of the roof membrane, again allowing water infiltration, and detached rooftop vents can pose considerable threats as windborne debris. The study found that water infiltration through a vent system is dependent upon the differential pressure as well as the vent mechanism. For vents experiencing higher differential pressures, vent covers can be used during storms to reduce water infiltration. Active controls can also be designed to close the vents automatically as differential pressure increases based on the wind speed and wind angle of attack.