Response of Structures to Turbulent Wind

Abstract

Civil-engineering structures such as long-span suspension bridges, tall towers, skyscrapers, and radio telescopes respond not only statically but also dynamically to natural wind. The dynamic response can be attributed to the following causes acting either separately or together: 1. buffeting by gusts; 2. buffeting by vortices and turbulence shed in the wake of the structure; 3. buffeting by vortices shed by other structures; 4. instability of the galloping or flutter categories. A description is given of the physical processes involved; in particular, the characteristics of the natural wind and the nature of the aerodynamic and mechanical response of structures are described. Approaches to the theoretical description of the problems are outlined, and their degree of success is discussed in the light of experimental results. Some approaches to design are referred to.