Serviceability evaluation methods for high-rise structures considering wind direction

Abstract

High-rise buildings are very slender and flexible. Their low stiffness values make them vulnerable to horizontal loads, such as those associated with wind or earthquakes. For high-rise buildings, the threat to serviceability caused by wind-induced vibration is an important problem. To estimate the serviceability under wind action, the response acceleration of a building at the roof height is used. The response acceleration is estimated by the same wind speed at all wind directions. In general, the effect of wind direction is not considered. Therefore, the response accelerations obtained are conservative. If buildings have typical plans and strong winds blow from relatively constant wind directions, it is necessary to account for the wind direction to estimate the response accelerations. This paper presents three methods of evaluating the response accelerations while considering the effects of wind direction. These three serviceability evaluation methods were estimated by combining the wind directional frequency data obtained from a weather station with the results of a response analysis using wind tunnel tests. Finally, the decrease in the efficiencies of the response acceleration for each serviceability evaluation method was investigated by comparing the response acceleration for the three methods accounting for wind direction with the response acceleration in which wind direction was not considered.