Description

The WHIRL is dedicated to the study of the effects and impact of wind storms, including hurricanes, tornadoes, and thunderstorms, and other related meteorological hazards (e.g. flooding, and storm surges) on the natural environment and man-made structures. The laboratory involves a multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, and business experts, who take advantage of a geographic location in the heart of Florida Space Coast, to serve the needs of industry, government, and the public in wind hazard mitigation.

The WHIRL is a joint effort of Florida Tech Colleges of Engineering and Science and Liberal Arts, and the Schools of Aeronautics and Business.

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Objectives

The three main objectives of the WHIRL are:

1. research on mitigation of losses to life, property, and the environment;
2. education of the public through dissemination of information, and organization of seminars and workshops;
3. development of a multidisciplinary program of study focused on wind engineering, and wind related socio-economic studies and analyses.

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Research Topics

The WHIRL is a multidisciplinary laboratory where participants are interested in the following topics (the list is not exclusive):

• Action of strong winds and resulting ocean waves on structures.
• Evaluation of building codes and standards.
• Retrofitting techniques for buildings and public infrastructure systems to resist wind loads.
• Risk assessment of existing structures
• Coastal erosion, sediment transport, and environmental damage due to storm surges and floods.
• Development of remote sensing devices for monitoring wind damage, wind speed, and flood levels.
• Development of GIS programs for environmental studies, mitigation, and loss estimation.
• Bathymetric mapping of bottom sediments and coastline changes.
• Wind and meteorology studies.
• Wind tunnel modeling and testing, including development of new instrumentation.
• Statistical studies and development of potential damage maps for hurricane hazard in Florida,
• Simulation studies of wind effects on transport processes.
• Impact of wind on operations of helicopters and light aircraft
• Economic impact of major storms

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Faculty

The faculty which are part of the laboratory are:

Mike Barker, aeronautics

Charles Bostater, Ph.D.: environmental science,oceanograp hy

Karen Chambliss, Ph. D.: business and management science

Iver Duedall, Ph.D.environmental science/oceanograp hy

Lee Harris, Ph.D. , P.E.: ocean engineering/oceanograp hy

David Hott, Ph.D.: business and management science

George Maul, Ph.D.: oceanograp hy/meteorology

Ashok Pandit, Ph.D., P.E.: /hydraulics

Jean-Paul Pinelli, Ph.D., P.E.: /structures

Hamid K. Rassoul, Ph. D.: physics and space sciences

Daniel Simpson: laboratory coordinator, college of engineering

Mani Subramanian, Ph.D., P.E.: aerospace engineering

meteorology

Gary Zarillo, Ph.D.: oceanograp hy

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Facilities

The existing facilities at Florida Tech include the following equipment, and related laboratories:

• a wind tunnel; a wave tank; structural testing equipment; computer labs;
• an air quality monitoring station;
• a coastal wave/weather/tide station at Sebastian Inlet;
• an environmental optics and remote sensing laboratory;
• a Geographic Information System Lab;
• a coastal processes lab;
• the Indian River Marine Science Research Center
• the 60-foot ocean research vessel Delphinus
• a fleet of 50 single and multi-engine airplanes

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Contact:

WHIRL Director: Jean-Paul Pinellii, Ph.D., P.E.

Email: pinelli@fit.edu

Civil Engineering Program

Florida Institute of Technology

150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32901-6975

Phone: (407) 674-8085

Fax: (407) 674-7565

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Related Sites

Research Centers:

List of Hazard/Disaster Centers and Institutes (from Un. of Colorado)

Wind Science and Engineering Research Center, Texas A&M University

Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (Partnership for Natural Disaster Reduction)

International Hurricane Center, Florida International University

NAHB Research Center

Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado, Boulder

National Research Center, Otawa, Canada

NIST

Tropical Prediction Center

Texas Tech WIND ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER

Insurance Sites:

Florida's Insurance Commissioner's Office

Florida Windstorm Underwriting Association

Institute for Business and Home Safety

The Insurance News Network

National Association of Insurance Commissioners

Wharton School of Business Insurance Risk

Consulting Firms

AIR

Applied Research Associates, Inc.

ABS Consulting

Risk Management Solutions, Inc.

Kinetic Analysis Corporation

Aon Risk Technologies Inc.

Benfield Hazard Research Centre

Organizations

American Association of Wind Engineering

FEMA

Storm2004 Hurricane Central - News source for hurricane and storm information.

METRO-DADE Building Code Compliance Office

Brevard County Office of Emergency Management

Conferences:

Wind events calendar

2004 European Wind Energy Conference & Exhibition

New Zealand Wind Energy Association (NZWEA)

The 2nd Asian Wind Energy Exhibition & Conference

Weather Sites:

The Weather Channel

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