Published works

Damage investigations carried out following windstorms have shown significant damage caused by rainwater ingress (Boughton, Falck et al. 2017). A preliminary experimental study was carried out at the Cyclone Testing Station (CTS) that simulated wind driven rain on a residential window under strong wind conditions to observe rainwater ingress.

The external pressures on a building envelope vary in time and space on the surface of a building with windward walls experiencing positive pressures and all other surfaces (side and leeward walls and roof) subjected to negative pressures.

Internal pressure fluctuations in a nominally sealed building with a porous envelope, are generally much lower than the external pressure fluctuations. This internal pressure is usually a small suction pressure and hence the net (i.e. (external – internal)) pressure across the windward wall is positive but negative across the other surfaces. This pressure differential along with wind driven rain can result in air-entrained water ingress into the building through windows that are closed due to gaps and weep-holes.

Preliminary tests were conducted at the CTS on a window attached to the wind driven rain simulator (WDRS) to assess rainwater leakage and potential measures that could reduce leakage.