A Brief Review of Wind Effects on Buildings and Structures

1966 ◽  
Vol 70 (665) ◽  
pp. 553-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Scruton

SummaryPresent day structural forms and methods of fabrication have considerably increased the importance of wind as a design consideration. For estimations of the overall stability of a structure and of the local pressure distribution on the cladding, a knowledge of the maximum steady or time-averaged wind loads is usually sufficient. Mind tunnel tests to determine the wind loading coefficients are often made in smooth uniform flow, but for more accurate data account must be taken of the effects of the vertical gradient of wind speed and the turbulence of natural winds. Further research is needed into these effects and also into methods of obtaining a sufficient representation of the natural wind in the wind tunnel.There are a number of ways by which wind excites structures into oscillation; among these are vortex excitation, galloping, proximity effects including buffeting, stalling flutter and classical flutter. The vortex and galloping excitation might be expected to be especially sensitive to the turbulence properties of the air flow. Also, in the absence of any mechanism for instability, atmospheric turbulence may directly excite oscillations through the random forcing by the pressure fluctuations which it produces. Further understanding of this problem must come through research into the effects of turbulence (and to the extent to which these effects may be disregarded), but the range of the conditions is so vast and complicated that it seems unlikely that sufficient aerodynamic and wind data will be accumulated to permit the response of a proposed structure to be calculated with reasonable certainty, and for major projects it is anticipated that comprehensive tests on aeroelastic models in wind tunnels with appropriate turbulent air flow will continue to offer the more reliable predictions.The air flow around buildings is of concern inasmuch as it influences the dispersal of combustion and other gases from the smokestack and also in its effect on the speeds and turbulence of the wind over areas used by pedestrians. The erection of a tall building may cause an increase in wind speeds and gustiness at ground level. These problems of the external flow over buildings are readily examined in wind tunnels. For this purpose tunnels with large working sections are desirable to permit a sufficiently wide area of the neighbourhood to be represented.

1983 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Wilson ◽  
B. G. Jones

An experimental study of the fluctuating velocity field and the fluctuating static wall pressure in an annular turbulent air flow system with a radius ratio of 4.314 has been conducted. The study included direct measurements of the mean velocity profile, turbulent velocity field and fluctuating static wall pressure from which the statistical values of the turbulent intensity levels, power spectral densities of the turbulent quantities, and the cross-correlation between the fluctuating static wall pressure and the fluctuating velocity field in the core region of the flow were obtained. The effect of the turbulent core region of the flow on the wall pressure fluctuations was studied by cross-correlating the axial and radial velocity components with the wall pressure fluctuations. A three-sensor, signal subtraction data analysis method using coherence techniques was developed to separate the superimposed local pressure fluctuations and acoustically transmitted noise. This analysis method is shown to adequately isolate the local pressure fluctuation information at each wall of the flow channel. The results of the experimental measurements are compared with existing experimental and numerical information on turbulent annular flow fields and wall pressure statistics. The pressure-velocity correlation indicates that a substantial contribution to the pressure field on the wall of the flow channel is from the turbulent core region outside of the boundary layer. The wall pressure field is shown to be significantly different on the two dissimilar walls. The pressure-velocity correlations show that this difference is due to the geometric difference between the dissimilar volumetric sources which contribute to the wall pressure field. The results of this study show that vibration modeling must incorporate the effects of the flow geometry on the wall pressure statistics, which are used as the driving force for flow-induced vibrations.


For the past 5-10 years architects have realized the need for information on the aerodynamics of the environment around groups of buildings. The high wind speeds in precincts around tall or exposed buildings have surprised their designers who have sought remedies, and the publicity about windy environments around existing buildings has led to requests for advice about developments on the drawing board. In the absence of a general theory for the prediction of air flow patterns and wind speeds around groups of buildings, the problem has been studied in wind tunnels. The paper describes typical town centre developments in which a problem of wind environment has arisen, and gives a brief account of the investigation of specific cases. The broad conclusions from some twenty case studies made by the Building Research Station in response to inquiries from industry are summarized. In seeking to generalize, a series of investigations of the air flow around small groups of idealized model buildings has been conducted, and some comparisons between model and full-scale measurements have been made. This has led to a design method for use in planning the layout of small groups of buildings, which draws on the data from model tests and also meteorological information and comfort criteria. This work is outlined, and future research needs are also discussed.


Author(s):  
B. P. Khozyainov

The article carries out the experimental and analytical studies of three-blade wind power installation and gives the technique for measurements of angular rate of wind turbine rotation depending on the wind speeds, the rotating moment and its power. We have made the comparison of the calculation results according to the formulas offered with the indicators of the wind turbine tests executed in natural conditions. The tests were carried out at wind speeds from 0.709 m/s to 6.427 m/s. The wind power efficiency (WPE) for ideal traditional installation is known to be 0.45. According to the analytical calculations, wind power efficiency of the wind turbine with 3-bladed and 6 wind guide screens at wind speedsfrom 0.709 to 6.427 is equal to 0.317, and in the range of speed from 0.709 to 4.5 m/s – 0.351, but the experimental coefficient is much higher. The analysis of WPE variations shows that the work with the wind guide screens at insignificant average air flow velocity during the set period of time appears to be more effective, than the work without them. If the air flow velocity increases, the wind power efficiency gradually decreases. Such a good fit between experimental data and analytical calculations is confirmed by comparison of F-test design criterion with its tabular values. In the design of wind turbines, it allows determining the wind turbine power, setting the geometrical parameters and mass of all details for their efficient performance.


Author(s):  
Borut Jereb ◽  
Brigita Gajšek ◽  
Gregor Šipek ◽  
Špela Kovše ◽  
Matevz Obrecht

Black carbon is one of the riskiest particle matter pollutants that is harmful to human health. Although it has been increasingly investigated, factors that depend on black carbon distribution and concentration are still insufficiently researched. Variables, such as traffic density, wind speeds, and ground levels can lead to substantial variations of black carbon concentrations and potential exposure, which is even riskier for people living in less-airy sites. Therefore, this paper “fills the gaps” by studying black carbon distribution variations, concentrations, and oscillations, with special emphasis on traffic density and road segments, at multiple locations, in a small city located in a basin, with frequent temperature inversions and infrequent low wind speeds. As wind speed has a significant impact on black carbon concentration trends, it is critical to present how low wind speeds influence black carbon dispersion in a basin city, and how black carbon is dependent on traffic density. Our results revealed that when the wind reached speeds of 1 ms−1, black carbon concentrations actually increased. In lengthy wind periods, when wind speeds reached 2 or 3 ms−1, black carbon concentrations decreased during rush hour and in the time of severe winter biomass burning. By observing the results, it could be concluded that black carbon persists longer in higher altitudes than near ground level. Black carbon concentration oscillations were also seen as more pronounced on main roads with higher traffic density. The more the traffic decreases and becomes steady, the more black carbon concentrations oscillate.


2007 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Klink

Abstract Mean monthly wind speed at 70 m above ground level is investigated for 11 sites in Minnesota for the period 1995–2003. Wind speeds at these sites show significant spatial and temporal coherence, with prolonged periods of above- and below-normal values that can persist for as long as 12 months. Monthly variation in wind speed primarily is determined by the north–south pressure gradient, which captures between 22% and 47% of the variability (depending on the site). Regression on wind speed residuals (pressure gradient effects removed) shows that an additional 6%–15% of the variation can be related to the Arctic Oscillation (AO) and Niño-3.4 sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies. Wind speeds showed little correspondence with variation in the Pacific–North American (PNA) circulation index. The effect of the strong El Niño of 1997/98 on the wind speed time series was investigated by recomputing the regression equations with this period excluded. The north–south pressure gradient remains the primary determinant of mean monthly 70-m wind speeds, but with 1997/98 removed the influence of the AO increases at nearly all stations while the importance of the Niño-3.4 SSTs generally decreases. Relationships with the PNA remain small. These results suggest that long-term patterns of low-frequency wind speed (and thus wind power) variability can be estimated using large-scale circulation features as represented by large-scale climatic datasets and by climate-change models.


1995 ◽  
Vol 117 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Chu ◽  
R. Dong ◽  
J. Katz

Maps of pressure distributions computed using PDV data, combined with noise and local pressure measurements, are used for identifying primary sources of noise in a centrifugal pump. In the vicinity of the impeller pressure minima occur around the blade and near a vortex train generated as a result of non-uniform outflux from the impeller. The pressure everywhere also varies depending on the orientation of the impeller relative to the tongue. Noise peaks are generated when the pressure difference across the tongue is maximum, probably due to tongue oscillations, and when the wake impinges on the tip of the tongue.


1964 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 783-792
Author(s):  
JOHN MACHIN

1. The construction and use of a wind-tunnel apparatus is described in which measurements of evaporation under controlled conditions of temperature, humidity and air flow can be made. 2. Two mathematical formulae, applicable to evaporation in relatively low wind speeds, are described. It is suggested that a promising approach to evaporation from moist-skinned animals is provided by the application of Leighly's formula: E = K(p0-pd)c(v/x)n, where the rate of evaporation (E) is expressed in terms of the vapour pressure at the evaporating surface (p0) and in the ambient air (pd), the wind speed (v) and the length of the evaporating surface parallel to the wind (x). The constant, K, is calculated independently and the terms n and c are left for empirical determination. 3. Values of n and c for different types of evaporating surface are given together with the method used in their calculation. Those relating to flat evaporators and to the snail, Helix aspersa, are shown to differ significantly. 4. In general n increases and c decreases as the amount of air disturbance caused by the snail increases. 5. The fact that n for flat surfaces is in good agreement with previously established theory is taken as evidence that Leighly's formula may be validly applied. 6. The combined determination of n and c is introduced as a convenient assessment of a complex form in terms of air flow and evaporation.


Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis López-Manrique ◽  
E. Macias-Melo ◽  
O. May Tzuc ◽  
A. Bassam ◽  
K. Aguilar-Castro ◽  
...  

This work studies the characteristics of the wind resource for a location in the north zone of Tehuantepec isthmus. The study was conducted using climatic data from Cuauhtemotzin, Mexico, measured at different altitudes above the ground level. The measured data allowed establishing the profile of wind speeds as well as the analysis of its availability. Analysis results conclude that the behavior of the wind speed presents a bimodal distribution with dominant northeast wind direction (wind flow of sea–land). In addition, the area was identified as feasible for the use of low speed power wind turbines. On the other hand, the application of a new approach for very short-term wind speed forecast (10 min) applying multi-gene genetic programming and global sensitivity analysis is also presented. Using a computational methodology, an exogenous time series with fast computation time and good accuracy was developed for the forecast of the wind speed. The results presented in this work complement the panorama for the evaluation of the resource in an area recognized worldwide for its vast potential for wind power.


1991 ◽  
Vol 37 (125) ◽  
pp. 89-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry K. C. Clarke ◽  
Edwin D. Waddington

AbstractQuantitative understanding of the processes that couple the lower atmosphere to the upper surface of ice sheets is necessary for interpreting ice-core records. Of special interest are those processes that involve the exchange of energy or atmospheric constituents. One such process, wind pumping, entails both possibilities and provides a possible mechanism for converting atmospheric kinetic energy into a near-surface heat source within the firn layer. The essential idea is that temporal and spatial variations in surface air pressure, resulting from air motion, can diffuse into permeable firn by conventional Darcy flow. Viscous friction between moving air and the solid firn matrix leads to energy dissipation in the firn that is equivalent to a volumetric heat source.Initial theoretical work on wind pumping was aimed at explaining anomalous near-surface temperatures measured at sites on Agassiz Ice Cap, Arctic Canada. A conclusion of this preliminary work was that, under highly favourable conditions, anomalous warming of as much as 2°C was possible. Subsequent efforts to confirm wind-pumping predictions suggest that our initial estimates of the penetration depth for pressure fluctuations were optimistic. These observations point to a deficiency of the initial theoretical formulation — the surface-pressure forcing was assumed to vary temporally, but not spatially. Thus, within the firn there was only a surface-normal component of air flow. The purpose of the present contribution is to advance a three-dimensional theory of wind pumping in which air flow is driven by both spatial and temporal fluctuations in surface pressure. Conclusions of the three-dimensional analysis are that the penetration of pressure fluctuations, and hence the thickness of the zone of frictional interaction between air and permeable firn, is related to both the frequency of the pressure fluctuations and to the spatial coherence length of turbulence cells near the firn surface.


Author(s):  
Stephan Vogel ◽  
Joachim Holbøll

<p>This research investigates the impact of high velocity air flow on Partial Discharge (PD) patterns generated in strongly inhomogeneous fields. In the laboratory, a needle plane electrode configuration was exposed to a high electrical DC-field and a laminar air flow up to 22 m/s. The needle was connected to a variable DC potential of up to 100 kV over a grounded plate in order to trigger different corona modes. The impact of the air flow on the space charges created in the vicinity of the electrode is evaluated by means of PD measurements in time domain. The results indicate that the wind increases the frequency and magnitude of partial discharges in the vicinity of the electrode due to an increased rate of space charge removal around the tip of the needle and in the gap. The positive polarity shows higher dependency on air flow compared to the negative polarity. It is shown that positive breakdown streamer corona can be extinguished if wind speeds of more than 14.3 m/s are applied to the electrode.</p>


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