Acrosswind Response of Buildings

The acrosswind response of buildings is investigated. Expressions for the acrosswind loading are developed through the use of the spatio-temporal measurement of the fluctuating pressure field around a square cross-section building model. Methods of random vibration theory are used to estimate the rms and peak values of displacement, acceleration and jerk components of response. The results are compared with the response of an aeroelastically modeled building. The predicted and measured response agree within the limits of expected experimental errors. The addition of motion induced loads at higher reduced velocities produces still closer agreement between the predicted and measured response. Important features of the measured response characteristics are summarized. A step-by-step procedure and numerical example are presented to illustrate the methodology outlined for predicting the response to be estimated at the preliminary design stages. This would allow early assessment of the requirement to resist the mean deflection and to reduce the acceleration level at the top floors, and to ensure structural safety and occupancy comfort.