Wind Wizard: Alan G. Davenport and the Art of Wind Engineering

For centuries, engineers were basically concerned only with static forces in the design of buildings, considering issues such as weight distibution and which materials could handle the stresses of the structure. As buildings started getting taller, it became apparent that the effects of wind also needed to be considered, but no one really understood how to analyze those forces. Along came Alan Davenport, who established a new field of study and became known as the father of wind engineering. Here, journalist Roberts (King of Infinite Space: Donald Coxeter, the Man Who Saved Geometry) details Davenport's career and how he revolutionized skyscraper design by using wind tunnels. His studies provided valuable input on such famous structures as the World Trade Center, the Sears Tower, and the John Hancock Tower.