Franklin T. Lombardo

For More Information

• Extreme Wind Resilience Center
• THWARTS Tornado Symposium
• Wind Engineering Group Website

Education

• Ph.D., Wind Science and Engineering, Texas Tech University, 2009
• B.S., Civil Engineering, Tri-State University (now Trine), 2002

Academic Positions

• Affiliate Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Atmospheric Science, Oct. 2020 - Present
• Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Civil and Environmental Engineering Aug. 2015 - Present
• Research Assistant Professor, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jan. 2013 - Jul. 2015
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Aug. 2010-Jan. 2013

Post-Doctoral Research Opportunities

The Wind Engineering Research Laboratory in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois is inviting applicants for a NSF-funded postdoctoral position synthesizing legacy field observations from windstorms. These observations will include, but are not limited to, measurements of both wind and water (e.g., water depth, storm surge) and the impacts left in their wake. Major objectives of the research include:

 Developing and building a framework for field observations (e.g., event, data type, measurement

equipment, during/post-storm, etc…)

 Populate and organize the framework

 Characterize and analyze existing legacy field observations

 Forge new directions for assimilation of field observations in experimental and/or numerical

simulations

 Design of new field experiments to optimize value to the natural hazards research community

A strong background in natural hazards and/or wind/structural engineering is preferred. Position and tasks are designed for one year, with the possibility of a one year extension. Please contact Prof. Frank Lombardo (lombaf@illinois.edu) if interested. Position is part of a Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure (MsRI) grant led by Florida International University in support of a large-scale wind and water testing facility.

Research Interests

• Wind Engineering
• Extreme Wind Characterization
• Bluff Body Aerodynamics
• Resilience
• Multi-Hazard Analysis

Selected Articles in Journals

• Lombardo, F.T., Smith, D.A., Schroeder, J.L. and Mehta, K.C. (2014). “Thunderstorm characteristics of importance to wind engineering”, J. Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 125, 121-132 (CiteScore: 6.3)
• Lombardo, F.T., Roueche, D. and Prevatt, D.O. (2015). “Comparisons of two methods of near-surface wind speed estimation 22 May 2011 Joplin, Missouri tornado”, J. Wind Engineering Industrial Aerodynamics, 138, 87-97 (CiteScore: 6.3)
• Lombardo, F.T. and Ayyub, B. (2017), “Approach for near surface wind speed estimation with climate change considerations”, J. Risk Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, 3, 3 (CiteScore: 3.6)
• Lombardo, F.T. (2018). "Engineering analysis of a full-scale, high-resolution tornado wind speed record", J. Structural Engineering, 144, 2 (CiteScore: 5.2)
• Rhee, D.M. and Lombardo, F.T. (2018). “Improved near-surface wind speed characterization using damage patterns”. J. Wind Engineering Industrial Aerodynamics, 180, 288-297 (CiteScore: 6.3)
• Lombardo, F.T., Mason, M.S., Zaldivar de Alba, A. (2018). “Investigation of a downburst loading event on a full-scale, low-rise building”, J. Wind Engineering Industrial Aerodynamics, 182, 272-285 (CiteScore: 6.3)
• Lombardo, F.T. and Zickar, A.S. (2019). "Characteristics of measured extreme thunderstorm near-surface wind gusts in the United States". J. Wind Engineering Industrial Aerodynamics, 193, 103961 (CiteScore: 6.3)
• Nevill, J.B. and Lombardo, F.T. (2020). "Structural functionality scale for light-framed wood buildings with indicators for windstorm damage". J. Structural Engineering , 146, 4 (CiteScore: 5.2)
• Nevill, J.B. and Lombardo, F.T. (2021). "Empirical tornado resilience model for light-framed wood buildings", Engineering Structures, 231, 111840 (CiteScore: 6.9)
• Rhee, D., Nevill, J.B. , Lombardo, F.T. (2022). "Comparison of near-surface wind speed estimation techniques using different damage indicators from a damage survey of Naplate, IL EF-3 tornado". Natural Hazards Review, 23, 1, 04021052 (CiteScore: 4.2)

Reports

• Kuligowski, E.D., Lombardo, F.T., Phan, L.T., Levitan, M.L., Jorgensen, D.P. (2014). “Technical Investigation of the May 22, 2011 Tornado in Joplin, Missouri”, Final Report, NIST NCSTAR 3, 492 pp.

Conferences Organized or Chaired

• THWARTS Tornado Symposium - Lead PI and Conference Chair/Organizer - 2018-Present

Professional Societies

• Board Member, American Association for Wind Engineering, 2017 - 2021
• Vice-Chair, ASCE 7-22 Wind Load Subcommittee, Tornado Loads Task Committee, 2018 - Present

Teaching Honors

• ASCE Outstanding Instructor Award (2017)

Research Honors

• International Association for Wind Engineering Junior Award (2019)
• Department of Commerce Gold Medal (2014)

Recent Courses Taught

• CEE 460 - Steel Structures I
• CEE 473 - Wind Effects on Structures
• CEE 498 WE (CEE 498 WEO) - Wind Engineering
• CEE 595 S (CEE 595 SO, CEE 595 SRM) - Societal Risk Mngmt Seminar