• Wind and Structures
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.249-270
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• 2014

Through comparing the mean wind profiles observed overland during the passages of four typhoons, and the gradient wind speeds calculated based on the sea level pressure data provided by a numerical model, the present paper discusses, (a) whether the gradient balance is a valid assumption to estimate the wind speed in the height range of 1250 m ~ 1750 m, which is defined as the upper-level mean wind speed, in a tropical cyclone over land, and (b) if the super-gradient feature is systematically observed below the height of 1500 m in the tropical cyclone wind field over land. It has been found that, (i) the gradient balance is a valid assumption to estimate the mean upper-level wind speed in tropical cyclones in the radial range from the radius to the maximum wind (RMW) to three times the RMW, (ii) the super-gradient flow dominates the wind field in the tropical cyclone boundary layer inside the RMW and is frequently observed in the radial range from the RMW to twice the RMW, (iii) the gradient wind speed calculated based on the post-landfall sea level pressure data underestimates the overall wind strength at an island site inside the RMW, and (iv) the unsynchronized decay of the pressure and wind fields in the tropical cyclone might be the reason for the underestimation.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.413-426
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• 2008

A wind tunnel study has been carried out to determine the influence of spacing between buildings on wind characteristics above rural and suburban type of terrain. Experiments were performed for two types of buildings, three-floor family houses and five-floor apartment buildings. The atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) models were generated by means of the Counihan method using a castellated barrier wall, vortex generators and a fetch of roughness elements. A hot wire anemometry system was applied for measurement of mean velocity and velocity fluctuations. The mean velocity profiles are in good agreement with the power law for exponent values from ${\alpha}=0.15$ to ${\alpha}=0.24$, which is acceptable for the representation of the rural and suburban ABL, respectively. Effects of the spacing density among buildings on wind characteristics range from the ground up to $0.6{\delta}$. As the spacing becomes smaller, the mean flow is slowed down, whilst, simultaneously, the turbulence intensity and absolute values of the Reynolds stress increase due to the increased friction between the surface and the air flow. This results in a higher ventilation efficiency as the increased retardation of horizontal flow simultaneously accompanies an intensified vertical transfer of momentum.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.603-616
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• 2013

This study is aimed at formulating an empirical equation for the across-wind fluctuating moment and spectral density coefficient, which are needed to estimate the across-wind dynamic responses of tall buildings, as a function of the side ratios of buildings. In order to estimate an empirical formula, wind tunnel tests were conducted on aero-elastic models of the rectangular prisms with various aspect and side ratios in turbulent boundary layer flows. In this paper, criteria for the across-wind fluctuating moment and spectral density are briefly discussed and the results are analyzed mainly as a function of the side ratios of the buildings. Finally, empirical formulas for the across-wind fluctuating moment coefficient and spectral density coefficient according to variation of the aspect ratio are proposed.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.193-211
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• 2013

This paper presents results from a wind tunnel study that examined the drag coefficient and wind flow over an asymmetric wave train immersed in turbulent boundary layer flow. The modeled wavy surface consisted of eight replicas of a statistically-valid hurricane-generated wave, located near the coast in the shoaling wave region. For an aerodynamically rough model surface, the air flow remained attached and a pronounced speed-up region was evident over the wave crest. A wavelength-averaged drag coefficient was determined using the wind profile method, common to both field and laboratory settings. It was found that the drag coefficient was approximately 50% higher than values obtained in deep water hurricane conditions. This study suggests that nearshore wave drag is markedly higher than over deep water waves of similar size, and provides the groundwork for assessing the impact of nearshore wave conditions on storm surge modeling and coastal wind engineering.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.85-102
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• 2020

Accurate load evaluation is essential in any performance-based design. Design wind speeds and associated wind loads are well defined for synoptic boundary layer winds but not for thunderstorms. The method presented in the current study represents a new approach to obtain design wind speeds associated with thunderstorms and their gust fronts using historical data and Monte Carlo simulations. The method consists of the following steps (i) developing a numerical model for thunderstorm downdrafts (i.e. downbursts) to account for storm translation and outflow dissipation, (ii) utilizing the model to characterize previous events and (iii) extrapolating the limited wind speed data to cover life-span of structures. The numerical model relies on a previously generated CFD wind field, which is validated using six documented thunderstorm events. The model suggests that 10 parameters are required to describe the characteristics of an event. The model is then utilized to analyze wind records obtained at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (KLBB) meteorological station to identify the thunderstorm parameters for this location, obtain their probability distributions, and utilized in the Monte Carlo simulation of thunderstorm gust front events for many thousands of years for the purpose of estimating design wind speeds. The analysis suggests a potential underestimation of design wind speeds when neglecting thunderstorm gust fronts, which is common practice in analyzing historical wind records. When compared to the design wind speed for a 700-year MRI in ASCE 7-10 and ASCE 7-16, the estimated wind speeds from the simulation were 10% and 11.5% higher, respectively.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.135-145
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• 2023

Developing high-fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation methods used to evaluate the airwake characteristics along a flight deck of a large ship, the various kind of data such as actual ship measurement and wind tunnel results are required to verify the accuracy of CFD simulation. Inflow velocity profile at the bow, local unsteady flow field data around the flight deck, and highly reliable wind tunnel data which were measured after reviewing Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) simulation and Reynolds Number effects were also used to determine the key parameters such as turbulence model, time resolution and accuracy, grid resolution and type, inflow condition, domain size, simulation length, and so on in STAR CCM⁺. Velocity ratio and turbulent intensity difference between Full-scale CFD and actual ship measurement at the measurement points show less than 2% and 1.7% respectively. And differences in velocity ratio and turbulence intensity between wind tunnel test and small-scale CFD are both less than 2.2%. Based upon this fact, the selected parameters in CFD simulation are highly reliable for a specific wind condition.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2019

The use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is becoming an increasingly popular means to model wind flows in and around buildings. The first published application of CFD to both indoor and outdoor building airflows was in the 1970's. Since then, CFD usage has expanded to include different aspects of building design. Wind tunnel testing (WTT) on buildings for wind loads goes back as far as 1908. Gustave Eiffel built a pair of wind tunnels in 1908 and 1912. Using these he published wind loads on an aircraft hangar in 1919 as cited in Hoerner (1965 - page 74). The second of these wind tunnels is still in use today for tests including building design ($Damljanovi{\acute{c}}$, 2012). The Empire State Building was tested in 1933 in smooth flow - see Baskaran (1993). The World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York City were wind tunnel tested in the mid-sixties for both wind loads, at Colorado State University (CSU) and the [US] National Physical Laboratory (NPL), as well as pedestrian level winds (PLW) at the University of Western Ontario (UWO) - Baskaran (1993). Since then, the understanding of the planetary boundary layer, recognition of the structures of turbulent wakes, instrumentation, methodologies and analysis have been continuously refined. There is a drive to replace WTT with computational methods, with the rationale that CFD is quicker, less expensive and gives more information and control to the architects. However, there is little information available to building owners and architects on the limitations of CFD for flows around buildings and communities. Hence building owners, developers, engineers and architects are not aware of the risks they incur by using CFD for different studies, traditionally conducted using wind tunnels. This paper will explain what needs to happen for CFD to replace wind tunnels. Ultimately, we anticipate the reader will come to the same conclusion that we have drawn: both WTT and CFD will continue to play important roles in building and infrastructure design. The most pressing challenge for the design and engineering community is to understand the strengths and limitations of each tool so that they can leverage and exploit the benefits that each offers while adhering to our moral and professional obligation to hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.269-281
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• 2005

The paper describes the work of the IAWE Working Group WGF - Extreme Wind Prediction and Zoning, one of the international codification working groups set up in 2000. The topics covered are: the international database of extreme winds, quality assurance and data quality, averaging times, return periods, probability distributions and fitting methods, mixed wind climates, directionality effects, the influence of orography, rare events and simulation methods, long-term climate change, and zoning and mapping. Recommendations are given to promote the future alignment of international codes and standards for wind loading.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.119-130
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• 2001

The paper addresses the suitability of wind pressure coefficients specified in contemporary design standards and codes of practice for gable roofs of intermediate slope (roof angle $10^{\circ}-30^{\circ}$). In a recent research study, a series of low building models with different roof slopes in this intermediate range were tested in a boundary layer wind tunnel under simulated open country terrain conditions. This was different from the original study in the 70's, which produced the current provisions on the basis of a model tested only for a single roof slope (4:12) in this range. The results of the study suggest that a modification to the American wind provisions would be warranted to make them more representative of the true local and area-averaged wind loads imposed on gable roofs of intermediate slope.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.203-223
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• 1998

This paper describes in detail the features of an extensive study on Spectral Density Functions (SDF's) of wind pressures acting on several low building roof geometries carried out in a boundary layer wind tunnel. Various spectral characteristics of wind pressures on roofs with emphasis on derivation of suitable analytical representation of spectra and determination of characteristic spectral shapes are shown. Standard spectral shapes associated with various zones of each roof and their parameters are provided. The established spectral parameters can be used to generate synthetic spectra adequate for the simulation of wind pressure fluctuations on building surfaces in a generic fashion.