On 1 November 1965, three giant cooling towers at Ferrybridge power station in West Yorkshire collapsed during a gale. No one was killed but the incident triggered widespread alarm. The towers had been built to withstand far greater wind forces but had nevertheless disintegrated. Why had this occurred and what other buildings were at risk across the UK?
To find the answer, the Central Electricity Generating Board asked Julian Hunt, a young British engineer on its research staff, to investigate. Hunt began to analyse the wind force distribution on the towers and realised these had not been adequately accounted for in their design. These flaws led him to develop theories about turbulence that are now used in the construction and design of any large obstruction – such as a tower or skyscraper – that could significantly alter wind patterns, creating unexpected gusts and dangerous downdrafts.
