Midterm Review Session 10/04/2021

1. The NHC identified a tropical system traveling in the North Atlantic Ocean and named it
Hurricane X. The tropical system was first a tropical storm, which develop into a Hurricane with
a Beaufort number 14.
a) Is the hurricane rotating clockwise or counterclockwise?
Counterclockwise, any hurricane that develops in the northern hemisphere will rotate in a counterclockwise
direction.

b) What is its pressure in mb?

V = 1.87 x 𝐵3 = 1.87 x 143
V = 97.9 or 98mph
Sustained Wind (mph) = 9.615 x (1015 - Central Pressure in Millibars)0.6143
𝑉 1/0.6143
P= 1015 –
9.615
98 1/0.6143
P = 1015 -
9.615
P= 972 mb

Midterm Review Session

c) In what category would it fall under in the Saffir Simpson Scale?
Category 2 Hurricane because V>96 mph in the Saffir Simpson Scale.
2. What is the wind speed in mph at the downwind side of a tank with a change in elevation of 30ft, average
water depth of 0.8 meters and a length of 10 miles?

Answer:
h= 0.00035 V2 x L/H
h∗H
V=
L∗0.00035

Convert depth from meters to feet :

1 meter = 3.28 ft
H= 0.8 m = 2.625ft
h = 30ft & L = 10 miles

30 x 2.625
V=
10 x 0.00035

V=149.97 mph or 150 mph

Midterm Review Session
3. Using the equation below, determine the wind velocity in an urban terrain at a height of 100
m, if an anemometer measured a mean velocity of 100 mph at a height of 10 m over open
terrain. What is your answer in knots?
𝑧
𝑧0 0.07 𝑙𝑛( )
𝑧 0
𝑉ത𝑧 = 𝑉ത𝑧𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 ( ) 𝑧𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛
𝑧0 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑙𝑛( )
𝑧0 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛
Answer:
z0 open = 0.03 m, z0 urban = 1.0 m
zopen = 10 m, zurban = 100 m

VZ open = 100 mph

100
1 ln 1
𝑉ത𝑧 = 100 ( )0.07 10 = 101 mph
0.03 ln 0.03

Conversion: 1 knot = 1.151 statute miles per hour

V = 87.7 knots.
Midterm Review Session
4. In a hurricane, an anemometer located in open terrain at 10 m above ground records a 3-sec gust wind
speed of 70 m/sec. (1) What is the mean hourly wind speed at 10 m above ground in open terrain? Use the
Durst Curve given below. (2) What is the mean hourly wind speed at 30 m above ground in open terrain?
Use the power law equation and the table given below.
𝑧 1/α
𝑉𝑧 = 𝑉𝑧𝑟𝑒𝑓 ( )
𝑧𝑟𝑒𝑓

Midterm Review Session

4. In a hurricane, an anemometer located in open terrain at 10 m above ground records a 3-sec gust wind
speed of 70 m/sec. (1) What is the mean hourly wind speed at 10 m above ground in open terrain? Use the
Durst Curve given below. (2) What is the mean hourly wind speed at 30 m above ground in open terrain?
Use the power law equation and the table given below.
𝑧 1/α
𝑉𝑧 = 𝑉𝑧𝑟𝑒𝑓 ( )
𝑧𝑟𝑒𝑓

Answer:
𝑉
(1) 3𝑠 = 1.52 (𝐷𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒)
𝑉3600𝑠

70
𝑉3600𝑠 = = 46.05 m/s
1.52

30
(2) Vz= 46.05 x ( )1/7 = 53.9 m/s
10

Midterm Review Session

5. After Irma, many damages were seen in all types of structures. As we have learned in class, turbulence
intensity indicates wind fluctuations and dictate peak wind effects on structures. As an engineer, if you are
asked to estimate the height at which a turbulence intensity of 0.136 is expected over open terrain, what
would be your answer?
𝑛(𝑧0 )
𝐼𝑢 = 𝑧
2.5 ln
𝑧0

Answer:

𝑛(𝑧0 )
𝐼𝑢 = 𝑧
2.5 ln 𝑧
0

𝑛(𝑧0 ) = 2.45 for z0 = 0.03 m

𝑛(𝑧0 ) 2.45
z = 𝑧0 𝑥 𝑒 2.5𝐼𝑢 = 0.03 𝑥 𝑒 2.5 𝑥 0.136

Z= 40.42 m Midterm Review Session

 6. In a hurricane, an anemometer records a mean wind speed of 30 m/s. Using the wind turbulence
spectrum shown in the figure below, calculate the Longitudinal Turbulence Intensity 𝑰𝒖 .
Hint: Use the trapezoidal rule to calculate the RMS 𝝈𝒖′ of the fluctuating wind speed.

𝜎𝑢′ 𝐴
𝐼𝑢 = ഥ
= ഥ
𝑈 𝑈

𝐴 = 𝐴1 + 𝐴2

𝐴1 = 𝑦1 × 𝑥1 = 3 × 0.3 = 0.9 m2/s2

y1
𝑦1 +𝑦2 3+0.01
𝐴2 = × 𝑥2 = × 14.7 = 22 m2/s2 A1 A2
2 2
y2
𝐴 = 𝐴1 + 𝐴2 = 0.9 + 22 = 22.9 m2/s2
x1 x2
𝜎𝑢′ 𝐴 22.9 𝑚2 /𝑠 2
𝐼𝑢 = ഥ
= ഥ
= = 0.16 = 16%
𝑈 𝑈 30 𝑚/𝑠