Abstract:Generally, the cost of tornado-resistant design of structures is much higher than expected loss of wind-induced disaster. Therefore, load codes for the design of building structures generally take no consideration of tornado. However, some important engineering facilities with extreme high security requirements, like nuclear power plants, need to consider possible tornado-induced wind loads. This paper starts with the state-of-art of tornado models, then, the determination of direct wind pressure on structures, indirect action of tornado-generated missiles and the tornado-resistant design of special engineering structure like nuclear power plant, are summarized. Then it points out the necessity of calculating the tornado-induced wind loads by considering axial wind suction, translational motion of wind field and torsional response. The effect of the relative stiffness and end form of projectiles should be taken into account in the impact load of tornado-generated missiles.