
Inside the Cannon: How Texas Tech Defeats 250 MPH Debris
Executive Synthesis Empirical Missile Calibration: The Texas Tech National Wind Institute replicates 250 mile-per-hour tornado wind fields by launching a 15-pound, nominal 2×4 lumber projectile at 100 miles per hour using a specialized compressed-air pneumatic cannon. Structural Failure Mechanics: Standard residential construction—including traditional brick veneer, concrete masonry units, and unreinforced drywall—ruptures instantly because hollow, brittle, or weakly fastened materials cannot absorb focused, high-speed dynamic shear loads. Composite Dissipation Thresholds: Certified shelter wall assemblies survive through







