The Cyclone Testing Station is the pre-eminent independent authority on the performance of buildings in severe wind events. CTS is located at James Cook University in Townsville and focuses on the performance of houses and other low rise buildings in response to cyclones and storms across Australia and the surrounding region. Activities include investigations after wind events as well as research, testing and community education aimed at ensuring buildings designed to resist severe wind events are safe, economical and sustainable. Established in 1977, the CTS provides quality product testing and sound technical advice to governments, manufacturers, building industry professionals, insurers and property owners, as well as delivering first class research. Our independence, as well as experience in research, testing, damage investigations and education enable us to generate the knowledge and data needed to inform government, industry and the wider community on building performance.

Website

https://www.cyclonetestingstation.com.au/

Organisation type

• University Research Centre

Number of research staff

Up to 20 research staff

Address

Building 15, James Cook Drive, James Cook University, Townsville QLD 4811

Strengths and capabilities

• Post disaster damage investigations following cyclones and storms
• Vulnerability models for evaluating loss to communities
• Wind load tests on screws and cladding up to full scale houses
• Wind driven debris impact facilities
• Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel studies

Facilities and major equipment

• Full scale house testing facility
• NATA accredited laboratory and tests
• 2 x 2.5 x 22m Boundary layer wind tunnel
• Dynamic loading airbox
• Wind driven debris simulators
• SWIRLnet (relocatable anemometer towers)
• Structures/Materials laboratory

Lead researchers

• Professor John Ginger—Codification of wind loads on low rise structures
• Dr David Henderson—Wind load testing of full scale houses

Key science sectors

More information about the sectors this centre is involved in:

• Engineering
• Environment and nature
• Social sciences
• Tropical