Wind Turbine

Florida International University (FIU) Contributes to Research on Wind Damage Mitigation for Coastal Areas

Coastal areas in the US are prone to strong winds, including hurricanes, which can damage roofs. To address this, researchers developed the Aerodynamics Mitigation and Power System (AMPS), which uses wind turbines to reduce wind damage and provide power to buildings. Tests were conducted on a model building at Florida International University’s Wall of Wind Experimental Facility, comparing different AMPS configurations. Results showed that placing the turbines closer to the roof edge significantly reduced wind forces and prevented damage. The AMPS system disrupts swirling winds, further decreasing uplift forces. Future research will explore energy production, effectiveness on different building types, and load transfer.

“Gan Chowdhury A, Moravej M, Zisis I, Irwin P, Tremante A and Hajra B (2019) Mitigation of Aerodynamic Uplift Loads Using Roof Integrated Wind Turbine Systems. Front. Built Environ. 5:10. doi: 10.3389/fbuil.2019.00010”