Gust Buffeting. I: Peak Wind Velocity and Equivalent Pressure

Abstract

Although the peak wind velocity, the equivalent pressure on rigid bodies, and the dynamic alongwind response of flexible structures are component parts of the gust buffeting problem, different procedures have been developed in the technical literature with reference to each of these subjects. This fact gives rise to conflicting solutions and noticeable inconsistencies of results, especially when these procedures are applied to boundary situations. On the basis of this consideration, this paper and a companion paper propose a revised and generalized formulation of the wind buffeting problem and a unified definition of gust factor. The present paper analyzes the themes of the peak wind velocity and of the equivalent pressure solving both problems in closed form. This goal is pursued by introducing a new general expression of the power spectrum of the alongwind turbulence and by applying the equivalent wind spectrum technique. In the context of this formulation, several well-known specific procedures can be conceptually regarded as particular cases of this more general treatment.