Florida State University reported on October 6, 2026, that FAMU-FSU engineering researchers used 3D-printed building models to investigate wave-shaped roofs and walls.
Testing shape rather than adding material
The team compared flat building surfaces with wave patterns of different depths in a wind tunnel. The university reports that the deepest tested pattern reduced peak wind pressures near roof and wall corners by 40% to 60% across multiple wind directions.
The proposed explanation involves changing airflow around the building so strong pressure zones do not develop in the same way. The study was published in Engineering Structures.
What the result does—and does not—show
These are findings from experimental models, not a guarantee that a finished building will resist a particular storm. FSU says further flow experiments and computational modeling are planned.
For anyone who enjoys making scale models, the project is an interesting example of a miniature serving as a test instrument. The model's geometry becomes something researchers can compare under controlled conditions.
Source: FSU's research report. Featured image: wind-tunnel models, courtesy of Pedro Fernández-Cabán via FSU.