THE RESEARCH STUDY To duplicate hurricane-like conditions in the
laboratory, researchers shot wall sections with 15-pound 2 x 4
lumber "missiles" at up to 100 mph, simulating debris carried in
a 250 mph wind. These conditions cover all but the most severe
tornadoes. Hurricane wind speeds are less than the speeds
modeled here. Missile tests designed to demonstrate damage from
hurricanes use a 9-pound missile traveling about 34 mph.
Researchers tested 4 x 4-foot sections of concrete block,
several types of insulating concrete forms, steel studs, and
wood studs to rate performance in high winds. The sections were
finished as they would be in a completed home: drywall,
fiberglass insulation, plywood sheathing, and exterior finishes
of vinyl siding, clay brick, or stucco. All the concrete wall
systems survived the tests with no structural damage.
Lightweight steel and wood stud walls, however, offered little
or no resistance to the "missile." The 2 x 4 ripped through
them. Reinforced concrete homes have proven the