Aerodynamic analysis of an ultra–long and ultra–wide industrial building under wind loading: Insights into flow dynamics and pressure distribution characteristics

Abstract

Large ultra–long and ultra–wide industrial facilities have a huge windward surface, resulting in severe wind suction on the roof, back, and side enclosures. Wind–induced damage on structures may occur due to the turbulence effect caused by airflow over the irregular shape of the roof, which results in complex wind pressure distribution characteristics on the roof. Therefore, it is critical to elucidate the pressure distribution of ultra–long and ultra–wide structures to ensure the normal functioning of the structure and predict wind–induced dynamic disasters. In this paper, the wind–induced pressure field characteristics of ultra–long and ultra–wide roof structures are investigated by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis. A series of qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed to assess the pressure coefficient distribution on the roof as a result of wind direction angle, terrain roughness, and size effect. Meanwhile, the complicated variations in the wind field of the structure generated by the flow around bluff bodies are studied to establish a relationship between flow dynamics and pressure distribution characteristics. The results showed that the roof is mainly exposed to wind suction under the influence of wind attack angle, and the region with severe negative pressure gradient change is controlled by the large–scale eddies generated from the separated airflow. Moreover, the terrain roughness and size effect intricately modify the pressure distribution pattern on the local roof, and wind pressure intensity may be estimated using the information on eddy diffusion and velocity distribution.