NEWARK, N.J., June 20 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists said recent work by engineers and other researchers might lead to the development of homes that can withstand extreme winds.
New Jersey Institute of Technology civil engineer Rima Taher has spent two years examining findings of researchers who have studied the best designs and construction materials and methods needed to withstand extreme wind events such as hurricanes.
Taher recommends homeowners consider the findings of recent research when building in hurricane-prone regions.
Those findings include utilizing hexagonal or octagonal floor plans with a multiple-panel roof to reduce wind loads; using strong connections between the structure and its foundation and also between walls to limit structural failure; and using aerodynamic features, such as a central shaft, to create a connection between the internal space and the roof ridge to help balance pressures and reduce a roof's wind loads.
Wind researchers also note roof overhangs are subject to wind uplift forces that could trigger a roof failure. So, in the design of the hurricane-resistant home, they recommend the length of such overhangs be limited to 20 inches.
The research appeared in the March issue of the Journal of Architectural Engineering.
