Numerical simulation of downburst wind flow over real topography

Downburst winds cause significant threats for many structural systems. Most failure reports of transmission line systems point to downburst events rather than other types of wind events. These events produce the highest wind speeds at low elevations and the shape of terrain topology is one of the main parameters that significantly changes the distribution of the surface wind speeds. The main objective of this study is to investigate the profiles of downburst wind speeds as they pass over real topography, and then to provide guidance for the design of transmission line systems in similar terrains. Numerical simulations of downburst wind flow over two samples of real topography were conducted and the consequent changes in horizontal and vertical downburst wind speeds were investigated.