The Laboratory for Wind Engineering Research is dedicated to creating a more hurricane resistant society. During the past three decades, damages in the United States due to hurricanes have averaged about $5 billion a year. Tropical storms and hurricanes are multi-dimensional phenomena — wind, storm surge, rainfall, and waves can all be sources of potential damage to vulnerable communities. The LWE converts the information and knowledge gained through structural mitigation research into practical tools for professionals, practitioners, and the general public. The research team includes experts in wind, civil and structural engineering and meteorology. Research and testing activities include:
- The Wall of Wind Research Facility http://wow.fiu.edu
- Structural Damage Mitigation and Material Development
- Field Measurements of Tropical Cyclone Winds
- Numerical Simulation of Wind Effects on the Built Environment
- Full-Scale Wind, Rain and Debris Testing
- Product Research & Development
- Wall of Wind overview video
- Wall of Wind Demonstration for IMAX
- NSF-NHERI Wall of Wind Experimental Facility Brochure (PDF)