can an F5 tornado take down a sky scraper?
May 31, 2009
in
Tornado Questions
in light of the recent tornados in atlanta, ive always wondered if a tornado could knock over a sky scraper. obviously, it didn't in atlanta, but it was only an F2 tornado. what about an F5? anyone? anyone? Bueller?
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4 comments
go redwings on May 31, 2009 at 3:32 pm
F5 could definitely take down any tall building under a direct hit. Most buildings around the country were designed to handle 100-120 mph (at least before the major overhaul in building codes along the coast for hurricanes).
An F2 is classified as 113-157 mph. Using a safety factor of 2, any building structure should be able to withstand 160 mph winds, collateral damage notwithstanding.
An F5 has wind speed of 261-318 mph, which is very difficult to design to. I'm not saying it's not possible to design a building to this level, it would just be so cost prohibitive that it's never done. So any building would collapse under a windspeed that high, unless it was for a very short duration, like 1 second.
Water on May 31, 2009 at 3:32 pm
The damage would be high. In fact it could actually twist the frame of the building but it would be unlikely that even an EF5 would bring a sky scraper down. So far, I believe that the Ft Worth tornado of March 28,2000 was the strongest that has hit a high-rise. Even though it also was rated F2 it was a stronger storm than the one in Atlanta.
You can get more information on that at this site.
http://www.dallassky.com/fwtornado.htm
Edit:
It just dawned on me that the 1970 Lubbock, TX tornado was rated F5 and hit a high-rise. I am not sure it was at F5 level when it hit the high rise but believe that building is still being used today and still is twisted from that storm.
2nd edit
Here is a site with info on that building in Lubbock.
http://lubbockonline.com/lubbock_tornado/stories/20Years/022.shtml
biff on May 31, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Sky scapers are designed for these conditions. I dont think they would come down. A few bits and pieces may fly off though.We get them here in Canada too but all they do is blow a few cows and pigs around.
Bonnie C on May 31, 2009 at 3:32 pm
I'm sure not….but it will take out the windows and some contents, as just happened in Atlanta…….