Archinect
Angelica Becerra

Angelica Becerra

San Diego, CA, US

anchor
Thesis Book Cover
Thesis Book Cover
2 more images  ↓

Terminus - A New Structure Defeating Tornado Housing Destruction: Wind Activated Mechanical Skin Structure

Tornadogenesis is still under research. Tornado prone areas are not just the cities in tornado alley, the territory affected in the united states grows along the wind currents transversing from the southwest states, to the north eastern states, the width of the current covers from  Iowa to Florida. The incline in the number of tornadoes per year is potentially increasing due to climate change, but building codes for housing developments do not match the potentially catastrophic tornado occurrences. Builders seeking profits, build ineffectual housing units with overground shelters, at times incapable of resisting a middle size tornado.  Although most lives are being saved, the potential of life loss is still high. The unlucky communities in the path of the tornado are left in disarray, and the occupants, damaged physically, emotionally and neurologically. After the devastation the inhabitants suffer from post traumatic stress disorders, illnesses and diseases.  This research concludes that housing in tornado prone areas should be of an architectural form with built-in safety features, such as strong forms, accessible, expansive, rooted and reactive. This can be accomplished through the use of material combinations resistant to the missile force of debris; The entirety of the house should be safer than a shelter, with a reactive protecting cushioning skin; Easily accessible at the arrival of a tornado, an occupant should not be forced to leave their home in search for protection, not should they be forced to gamble their belongings for the sake of leaving in the home town they grew up in; A tornado safe home should compare in square footage as the existing homes in the areas neighborhoods; The footings of the structure are to sustaining the wind load of category F5 tornado pressure, which might be higher than 305 mi. per hour; The structure should be reactive to the wind, strengthening with pressure, rather than weakening; Finally the structure should be deformable to cushion the impact of missile force debris, and replaceable without tearing down the entire structure. These features afford safety, peace of mind, and an architecturally attractive home.

 
Read more

Status: School Project
Location: Moore Oklahoma
My Role: Designer, Thesis Project
Additional Credits: This thesis would not have been possible without the guidance of people who questioned everything I did, and therefore forcing my mind to develop new ideas and new possible solutions; My professor, his instruction pulled me back to the drawing board time after time, with every occasion developing into a new idea and a new method, Prof. Dan Manlongat; My husband who with his knowledge in construction was on my toes about what could not be done, Mario Sanchez; and to my peers who presently edified me, educated me, in their perspectives and methods, while we shared our progress, Sina, Tim, Phoung, Andrea, Alisha, Melanie, Ashley, and Elias

 
Typical day in open structure, windows exposed to exterior allowing plenty of light.
Typical day in open structure, windows exposed to exterior allowing plenty of light.
Collapsed and closed structure during a tornado. Windows have folded inward, the layered materials of the exterior structure protect all openings from missile debri, and retractable tension cables hold the structure from reopening with the wind force.
Collapsed and closed structure during a tornado. Windows have folded inward, the layered materials of the exterior structure protect all openings from missile debri, and retractable tension cables hold the structure from reopening with the wind force.