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C-130 Field Testing |
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The manufactured housing industry
shined when Texas Tech University (TTU) and the U. S.
Department of Energy (DOE), in cooperation with the
Texas Air National Guard, performed wind tests on a
single section home via the prop wash from a C130 aircraft
on May 16 and May 17, 2001 at Reese Technology Center
in Lubbock, Texas. The aircraft, built in 1985 and based
in the Fort Worth area, has a capacity of 92 personnel
or 60 paratroopers in the cargo area, and burned more
than 12,000 gallons of fuel during the two days of testing.
Fire and rescue vehicles stood nearby, ready to react,
if necessary. The home, manufactured by Patriot Homes
in 1998, was constructed of hardboard siding and a shingle
roof and was designed for Wind Zone I. The house was
installed with the Vector Dynamics foundation system
for Wind Zone II because the anticipated wind loads
were in excess of 100 mph, and the vertical ties were
a retrofit application per Patriot Homes' installation
instructions. TTU and DOE instrumented the house to
be able to gauge the effect of the winds generated by
the C130 on the various components and to be able to
identify the specific winds. During the first day of
testing, the C130 was positioned for both lateral and
longitudinal (side and end) loads and the maximum sustained
wind load was 60 mph, with gusts to 80 mph.
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Throughout these test sessions, the house was set up with a hardboard perimeter enclosure, thus increasing the surface exposure to the wind loads. A "wind deflector" that had been installed at the front left fascia was removed after testing in each direction. At the end of the first day of testing, the perimeter enclosure was removed (along with a 5Õ Bull Snake that was resting under the home), as was the vapor barrier. The second day of tests measured the reaction of the home to high winds incurred without the perimeter enclosure, with the first round of tests reaching the same wind loads as the previous day. Then, a longitudinal test was run with the C130 generating maximum wind loads measured at 80 mph sustained, gusting to higher loads. Ironically, the final "maximum load" lateral test was nearly cancelled due to a windstorm. However, the wind abated, and the last lateral test - in which the wind was generated for +/- 30 minutes- was completed with winds gusting to 105 mph. |
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The Patriot home andVector Dynamics performed flawlessly, with no movement in the foundation, and no failure of the home. Under the peak loads, 80/mph to 105/mph, the home exhibited normal roof shingle detachment at the end zones on the windward side. Also, the fascia trim - at the location where the deflector had been added - loosened but did not completely detach during the final test. Of particular concern, prior to testing, was a) the roof system, which is built with significant differences for Wind Zone II winds than for those identified for Wind Zone I, and b) the retrofit application of the vertical ties. Both of these issues proved to be non-events, as all parts of the home and foundation performed to winds well beyond those for which they were designed. In addition to the reaction of the structure to the wind loads, research was conducted during these tests on movement of insulation in the roof and sidewalls of the home. Texas Tech and the Department of Energy plan to perform similar tests on a site-built home and on a modular home at a later date. Congratulations to Patriot Homes, Tie Down Engineering, MHI, and the entire manufactured housing industry for excellent performance under fire (wind)!!! |
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