Wind Wizard: Alan G. Davenport and the Art of Wind Engineering by Siobhan Roberts (PDF)

Description

How the father of wind engineering helped make the world’s most amazing buildings and bridges possibleWith Wind Wizard, Siobhan Roberts brings us the story of Alan Davenport (1932-2009), the father of modern wind engineering, who investigated how wind navigates the obstacle course of the earth’s natural and built environments—and how, when not properly heeded, wind causes buildings and bridges to teeter unduly, sway with abandon, and even collapse.In 1964, Davenport received a confidential telephone call from two engineers requesting tests on a pair of towers that promised to be the tallest in the world. His resulting wind studies on New York’s World Trade Center advanced the art and science of wind engineering with one pioneering innovation after another. Establishing the first dedicated “boundary layer” wind tunnel laboratory for civil engineering structures, Davenport enabled the study of the atmospheric region from the earth’s surface to three thousand feet, where the air churns with turbulent eddies, the average wind speed increasing with height. The boundary layer wind tunnel mimics these windy marbled striations in order to test models of buildings and bridges that inevitably face the wind when built. Over the years, Davenport’s revolutionary lab investigated and improved the wind-worthiness of the world’s greatest structures, including the Sears Tower, the John Hancock Tower, Shanghai’s World Financial Center, the CN Tower, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, the Sunshine Skyway, and the proposed crossing for the Strait of Messina, linking Sicily with mainland Italy.Chronicling Davenport’s innovations by analyzing select projects, this popular-science book gives an illuminating behind-the-scenes view into the practice of wind engineering, and insight into Davenport’s steadfast belief that there is neither a structure too tall nor too long, as long as it is supported by sound wind science.Some images inside the book are unavailable due to digital copyright restrictions.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐As a popular science book about wind engineering, this books is excellent. As a biography of Alan Davenport, I think it falls somewhat short.Overall, I liked it quite a bit — I liked that the author didn’t explain every term (though there is a glossary in the back), so that those who know what things mean already aren’t stuck reading about the basics of engineering. I felt the figures matched fairly well the level of the text — hints of much greater complexity with many simple presentations. You won’t learn (much) engineering from the text, but you at least can see how it is done and what factors are considered.As a biography, we get a decent introduction to Alan Davenport, but his adult life is all about his professional technical successes. I have no idea how he felt about his family (other than taking them to view bridges), how his relationship with his wife was, or if he ever retired before passing away. What is presented is fine. I guess my complaint is that I felt the introductory chapter made me expect more of a biography than the book had.

⭐I read a review in New Scientist that prompted me to get this book. Expected a more informative explanation of the effects of wind on structures and the design issues related to them. Gave up 2/3 way through. Diagrams are poorly presented with, for me at least, insufficient explanation to make them informative. As a mix of biography and technical information I found it failed on both counts.

⭐This book is a perfect mix of technical information and story. It is appropriate for an engineer or lay person.

⭐I stumbled across Wind Wizard on the new titles section at the library and really enjoyed it; I would call this a popular science biography, with the caveat that the “popular science” part is more interesting and less dumbed down than normal. The notes and references are nicely done, as are the frequent photos and illustrations. I am happy with my choice to borrow this book from the library rather than acquire a copy for myself, but I think it would make an excellent and well received gift for someone who likes wind, engineering, or has enjoyed a Henry Petrowski book.

⭐I had the pleasure of knowing Alan Davenport, so perhaps my rating of this book may be influenced by knowing him. However, everything that Siobhan Roberts wrote about him is absolutely correct. He was a brilliant engineer and researcher, yet he was not egotistical as some brilliant people become. His stongest aptitude was being able to analyze and explain the complex subject of turbulent wind effects on structures in such a way that design engineers can understand. Roberts did a wonderful job of presenting not only Davenport’s life and accomplishments, but also describing his work in a manner that everyone can understand. I would recommend this book to all people who have an interest in learning about a great engineer who has made a huge contribution to the subject of wind engineering.

⭐On time and as described.

⭐As an Engineering student at UWO in the 1970’s, I had the opportunity to know, and learn from AG Davenport. At that time, the relatively new Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel was the centrepiece of the Engineering school studying the CN tower, the Sears Building and other mega structures. Davenport was literally writing the book on wind engineering. This biography does a wonderful job of detailing Davenport’s personal and professional life, as well as his limitless capacity, abilities and accomplishments. The book is not technical, but manages to communicate Davenport’s brilliance, and personality.Anyone interested in the civil engineering, or in the contributions of Canadians to the world, should read this book.

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