A study of wind loading on tall structures: Atlantic-Richfield Plaza buildings
Date
1969-08
Authors
Sadeh, Willy Z., author
Cermak, J. E. (Jack E.), author
Hsi, George, author
Fluid Dynamics and Diffusion Laboratory, College of Engineering, Colorado State University, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Wind loading on a 1:384 scale model of Atlantic-Richfield Plaza Buildings 666 ft. high was investigated in a thick turbulent boundary-layer wind tunnel. Measurements of mean velocity, turbulence intensity and boundary-layer thickness upstream of the model structure verified that the wind-tunnel flow was an adequate simulation of the atmospheric-surface-layer conditions over the full-scale urban area. Mean pressure and pressure fluctuations were measured for three different wind directions (NE, N and NW). Generally, the mean pressure was found to be the largest near the top and smallest close to the base. An opposite variation was observed for the fluctuating and instantaneous peak pressures. The largest pressure fluctuations were obtained in the case of the N wind. The turbulence energy spectra of the upstream flow and surface pressure-fluctuations spectra exhibited consistently a similar qualitative behavior. This is suggestive that the upstream turbulence has a predominant role, together with the wake, in producing the pressure fluctuations. Direct measurement of mean and fluctuating overturning moment by means of a strain-gage dynamometer revealed that the latter ranged up to about ± 34% of the former. Root-mean square values of the fluctuating moment were also determined in an effort to relate it to the pressure fluctuations and upstream turbulence.
Description
CER68-69WZS-JEC-GH-36.
August 1969.
Includes bibliographical references.
For Metronics Associates, Inc.
August 1969.
Includes bibliographical references.
For Metronics Associates, Inc.
Rights Access
Subject
Buildings -- Aerodynamics
Wind tunnel models
Wind tunnels