Time-domain model for prediction of generalized 3DOF buffeting response of tall buildings using 2D aerodynamic sectional properties

Abstract

A time-domain method to calculate the buffeting response of a rectangular tall building (AR of B/D = 1.5 and H/D = 6) in along-wind, across-wind and torsional degrees of freedom using 2D aerodynamic sectional properties is presented here. The aerodynamic sectional properties were identified first using wind tunnel section models. Aerodynamic damping, which is critical in wind-induced response analysis of tall buildings, was calculated using the identified aeroelastic derivatives (flutter derivatives) and validated by comparing with those extracted directly from the response measurements of aeroelastic models of the tall building. A good agreement between the numerically simulated responses and the experimental measurements of an aeroelastic model (1:175 scale) shows the capability of the proposed method in the prediction of generalized 3DOF buffeting response of tall buildings in a wide range of wind speeds. Furthermore, the response of a tall building with two other cross-sectional shapes, circular and elliptical, was calculated using the developed method and compared amongst the three cross-sectional shapes to study the effect of cross section on buffeting response. The relative dependency of buffeting response of a tall building along each of the 3DOF on cross section, wind speed as well as angle of attack was assessed. Finally, the effect of taper on tall building’s buffeting response was studied using the developed method which showed that taper could significantly reduce the wind-induced response of tall buildings. The time-domain method to assess wind loads and buffeting response of tall buildings based on experimentally or theoretically derived aerodynamic properties of two-dimensional sections, as presented here, provides a viable and perhaps the only alternative to methods based on aeroelastic model tests and CFD simulations.