Wind-induced interference effects on low-rise buildings with gable roof

Abstract

Previous studies have observed clear interference effects and differences in response from a building group against an isolated building. This study conducted numerical simulations for low-rise buildings under wind load to investigate the mean wind-induced interference effects between the buildings. The primary purpose is to reveal the characteristics of wind pressure distribution on gable roof of low-rise building considering interference effects such that practical wind-resistant design methods and measures can be proposed. Various arrangement modes, arrangement distances and wind direction angles were considered based on the Reynolds Stress Model (RSM) that was verified by a wind tunnel test. The results show that the strongest mean wind-induced interference effects occurred on the cornice of the interfered building for two of the same low-rise buildings. With regard to the arrangement of low-rise buildings, the tandem arrangement yields the largest effects, followed by the staggered arrangement and then the parallel arrangement. For the regular group of low-rise buildings, larger interference effects occurred on the roof of low-rise buildings that were located on the corners or outer parts of the groups.