Field measurements and wind tunnel experimental investigations of wind effects on Guangzhou West Tower

Abstract

SummaryThe wind‐induced acceleration responses at the top of the Guangzhou West Tower (GZWT; 432 m) and the wind speed and direction at the top of Guangzhou Tower (532 m), which is located across the GZWT, were measured during the passage of Typhoon Mangkhut. The two buildings are separated by a river. The variation characteristics of the first two natural frequencies and damping ratios of the GZWT under strong vibrations are obtained by using random decrement technique (RDT) and modified Bayesian spectral density approach (MBSDA). Finally, field measurements of the maximum peak accelerations are compared with wind tunnel test results. The damping ratios identified by MBSDA are found to be greater than the results obtained by RDT. The natural frequencies decrease with increasing maximum acceleration of the corresponding acceleration segment. Besides, they decrease firstly and then increase with time elapses, reaching a minimum value at the maximum mean wind speed. The damping ratios are completely discrete, and no obvious linear correlation exists between the damping ratios and maximum acceleration of the corresponding acceleration segment. The peak accelerations at the top of the GZWT obtained from wind tunnel experiment agree well with that of full‐scale measurements.