Aerodynamic Characteristics of Tall Building Models with Various Unconventional Configurations

Abstract

Tall buildings have been traditionally designed to be symmetric rectangular, triangular or circular in plan, in order to avoid excessive seismic-induced torsional vibrations due to eccentricity, especially in seismic prone regions like Japan. However, recent tall building design has been released from the spell of compulsory symmetric shape design, and free-style design is increasing. This is mainly due to architects’ and structural designers’ challenging demands for novel and unconventional expressions. Development of computer aided analytical techniques and of vibration control techniques using auxiliary devices has also contributed to this trend. Another important aspect is that rather complicated sectional shapes are basically good with regard to aerodynamic properties for crosswind responses, which is a key issue in tall-building wind-resistant design. A series of wind tunnel tests have been carried out to determine wind forces and wind pressures acting on 31 tall building models with various configurations: square plan, rectangular plan, elliptic plan, with corner cut, with corner chamfered, tilted, tapered, inverse tapered, with setbacks, helical, openings and so on. Dynamic wind-induced response analyses of these models have also been conducted. The results of these tests have led to comprehensive discussions on the aerodynamic characteristics of various tall building configurations, and studies on corresponding optimal structural systems.