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Parks College Engineers Support Design of Our-Lady-of-the-Snows National Shrine at Belleville, Illinois by

Dr. Richard Andres* and Dr. Marty Ferman** *Professor Emeritus,**Professor, Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering Dept Parks College of Engineering and Aviation, St. Louis University, 3450 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO. 63103 USA

ABSTRACT

A new building was completed at Our-lady-of-the-Snows National Shrine (OLSNS) at Belleville, Illinois in Spring 1998. This new building contains a cavernous room for 6000 votive candles, and is accentuated by an 85-foot high tower protruding through a Venturi-like opening in the roof. The tower is of a modified helical design concept, intended to resemble a candle flame by the inventor, The late, Mr. William Severson, Artist and Sculptor. The building was designed by Mr. Art Stauder, Architect.

This paper will describe studies conducted at Parks college under the supervision of the Authors. These studies relate to both the Strauder Architectural Building and the “flame-like tower”, appropriately called “FLAMMA” by Artist/Sculptor Severson. The initial study was that of the temperature environments in the building, and was entirely analytical. The late Dr. Arthur Monsey, Consultant to Severson, suggested additional studies be run on “FLAMMA” to ensure public safety, notable effects from wind-induced vibration, should be verified. Consequently, analytical studies were made to assess the vibration, static and dynamic loads, and flutter and divergence properties. Subsequently, wind tunnel and water tunnel tests were made at Parks College, using scaled models of “FLAMMA” to verify the analytical work. Ultimately, experimental studies were expanded to assess wind effects within the building and those induced by FLAMMA. Initially, in the water tunnel tests, complex flow patterns around FLAMMA were observed using Flow Visualization Methods, indicating a upwards corkscrewing type flow believed to be introduced from FLAMMA’s shape. Additional wind tunnel tests included a completely scaled model of the open-front candle chamber with a FLAMMA tower model in place. Wind speeds within the building were measured, and flow visualization, using smoke, was further employed to qualitatively track the flow patterns. Finally, the feasibility of using small “windshields” on the candles was investigated.

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Andres, R., & Ferman, M. (2000, June), Parks College Engneers Support Design Of Our Lady Of The Snows National Shrine At Belleville, Illinois Paper presented at 2000 Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. 10.18260/1-2--8617