Wind flow and wind loads on the surface of a towershaped building: Numerical simulations and wind tunnel experiment

Flow structure and wind pressure distribution caused by obtuse obstacles are usually the focuses in Computational Wind Engineer researches (CWE). By solving the non-hydrostatical dynamic equations, PUMA model (Peking University Model of Atmospheric Environment) was developed and applied to simulating the flow structure and wind pressure distribution around a tower-shaped building. Evaluation about the wind environment and wind loads around the building was obtained through the analysis of the numerical simulation results and wind tunnel data. Comparisons between the simulation and wind tunnel study indicate that numerical simulation results agree well in the flow field and wind pressure distribution around the tower-shaped building. On the other hand, the horizontal grid interval of 2 m and the vertical grid of 3 m were still too crude to simulate the flow structure and wind pressure distribution on the building surface more exactly in detail; and the absence of suitable pressure perturbation parameterization scheme between the solid and the adjacent space also limits the accuracy of the numerical simulation. The numerical simulation model can be used to evaluate the wind environment and wind load around high buildings.     

Multi-hazard performance assessment of a transfer-plate high-rise building

Many urban areas are located in regions of moderate seismicity and are subjected to strong wind. Buildings in these regions are often designed without seismic provisions. As a result, in the event of an earthquake, the potential for damage and loss of lives may not be known. In this paper, the performance of a typical high-rise building with a thick transfer plate (TP), which is one type of building structure commonly found in Hong Kong, is assessed against both earthquake and wind hazards. Seismic- and wind-resistant performance objectives are fi rst reviewed based on relevant codes and design guidelines for high-rise buildings. After a brief introduction of wind-resistant design of the building, various methodologies, including equivalent static load analysis (ESLA), response spectrum analysis (RSA), pushover analysis (POA), linear and nonlinear time-history analysis (LTHA and NTHA), are employed to assess the seismic performance of the building when subjected to frequent earthquakes, design based earthquakes and maximum credible earthquakes. The effects of design wind and seismic action with a common 50-year return period are also compared. The results indicate that most performance objectives can be satisfi ed by the building, but there are some objectives, such as inter-story drift ratio, that cannot be achieved when subjected to the frequent earthquakes. It is concluded that in addition to wind, seismic action may need to be explicitly considered in the design of buildings in regions of moderate seismicity.     

Multiscale modeling of the atmospheric environment over a forest canopy

Vegetation constitutes one of the fundamental types of land use on Earth. The presence of trees in urban areas can decrease local winds and exchange sensible and latent heat with the surrounding environments, thus exerting notable influences on the urban microenvironment. A better understanding of the turbulent transfer of momentum and scalars around vegetation canopy could significantly contribute to improvement of the urban environment. This work develops a large-eddy simulation(LES) method that is applicable to model the flow and scalar transport over the forest canopy. We study the atmospheric flow over complex forested areas under typical weather conditions by coupling LES to the mesoscale model. Models of radiation and energy balance have been developed with explicit treatment of the vegetation canopy. By examining the flow over a forest canopy under a range of stability conditions, we found that buoyancy enhances or suppresses turbulent mixing in unstable or stable atmosphere respectively, with decreasing or increasing wind shear, respectively. From the multiscale modeling of the Beijing Olympic Forest Park, the present coupling scheme proves to better resolve the diurnal variations in wind speed,temperature, and relative humidity over complex urban terrains. The coupling scheme is superior to the traditional mesoscale model in terms of wind field simulation. This is mainly because the coupling scheme not only takes the influences of external mesoscale flow into consideration, but also resolves the heterogeneous urban surface at a fine scale by downscaling, thus better reproducing the complex flow and turbulent transport in the urban roughness sublayer.     

基于AR模型模拟超高层建筑的脉动风速时程

风荷载是超高层建筑设计的主要荷载之一,而且通过风振时域分析可以更全面地了解超高层建筑风振响应特性,更直观地反映超高层建筑风致振动控制的有效性。因此,本文使用线性滤波法即白噪声滤波法(white noise filtration method,WNFM)中的自回归(auto-regressive,AR)模型模拟超高层建筑的风速时程。首先,考虑超高层建筑风速时程的时间和空间相关性,导出了四阶AR模型的参数表达式。接着,基于AR模型模拟了一幢高度为200 m超高层建筑的风速时程。最后,通过比较模拟风速功率谱、模拟自相关函数和互相关函数与目标风速功率谱、目标自相关函数和互相关函数的吻合程度,验证基于AR模型模拟超高层建筑风速时程的可行性。     

超高层建筑周围风场特性实测研究

为探究超高层建筑周围风场特性,以天津高银117大厦为例,通过DZZ2型采集系统进行现场实测,对该大厦周围的平均风速、脉动风速、湍流强度、湍流积分尺度、Von Karman谱等风场特性进行分析。结果表明:顺风向及横风向脉动风速变化规律不服从标准高斯分布;顺风向及横风向湍流强度与平均风速呈负相关,且其变化程度与平均风速范围有关;顺风向及横风向湍流积分尺度均随平均风速的增加而增大;Von Karman谱对低频范围内超高层周围风场特性描述较为准确。     

Current research in urban hydrogeology – A review

Urban groundwater is a heritage at risk because urban land use practises puts enormous and highly complex pressure on this resource. In this article, we review urban groundwater studies in the context of urban water management, discuss advances in hydrogeological investigation, monitoring and modelling techniques for urban areas and highlight the challenges. We present how techniques on contaminant concentration measurements, water balancing and contaminant load estimation were applied and further developed for the special requirements in urban settings. To fully understand and quantify the complex urban water systems, we need to refine these methods and combine them with sophisticated modelling approaches. Only then we will be able to sustainably manage our water resources in and around our urban areas especially in light of growing cities and global climatic change. We believe that over the next few years much more effort will be devoted to research in urban hydrogeology.     

Effects of high modes on the wind-induced response of super high-rise buildings

For super high-rise buildings,the vibration period of the basic mode is several seconds,and it is very close to the period of the fluctuating wind.The damping of super high-rise buildings is low,so super high-rise buildings are very sensitive to fluctuating wind.The wind load is one of the key loads in the design of super high-rise buildings.It is known that only the basic mode is needed in the wind-response analysis of tall buildings.However,for super high-rise buildings,especially for the acceleration response,because of the frequency amplification of the high modes,the high modes and the mode coupling may need to be considered.Three typical super high-rise projects with the SMPSS in wind tunnel tests and the random vibration theory method were used to analyze the effect of high modes on the wind-induced response.The conclusions can be drawn as follows.First,for the displacement response,the basic mode is dominant,and the high modes can be neglected.Second,for the acceleration response,the high modes and the mode coupling should be considered.Lastly,the strain energy of modes can only give the vibration energy distribution of the high-rise building,and it cannot describe the local wind-induced vibration of high-rise buildings,especially for the top acceleration response.     

室外风对高层建筑外保温层火灾发展的影响研究

近年来,由外墙保温材料引起的高层建筑火灾频繁发生,使得高层建筑室外火灾已经成为当下防火安全工程研究的热点议题。高层建筑外墙火灾受室外风影响较大,本研究采用CFD（Computational Fluid Dynamics）火灾模拟软件FDS,针对当前典型高层住宅建筑进行室外风作用下外保温材料火灾特性的模拟研究,分析了不同风向风速作用下外墙保温材料的火灾燃烧性能,研究了室外风对火灾烟气温度、运动速度、CO体积分数、可见度、火灾热释放速率等参数的影响。研究结果表明：室外风对火灾热释放速率等火灾作用参数有着较大影响,并存在一定的规律性。研究成果对未来高层节能建筑的防火设计施工具有一定的借鉴意义。     

广州新光大桥良态及台风气候抖振试验研究

采用Monte-Carlo台风随机模拟算法模拟台风风场特性并根据风荷载规范良态气候风环境参数建议的取值,在大气边界层风洞中利用被动紊流发生装置再现了广州新光大桥桥位处良态和台风两类气候模式风环境特征,详细比较了两类风环境新光大桥施工和运营状态、设计风速等因素对于新光大桥跨中主梁、主拱肋和施工塔架风致抖振响应的差异,初步解释了抖振响应差别的主要原因。     

Characterizing turbulent wind flow around dryland vegetation

Wind flow has been studied in situations where it encounters porous and solid windbreaks, but there has been a lack of research exploring turbulent wind dynamics around and in the lee of real vegetation elements. In dryland contexts, sparse vegetation plays an important role in modulating both the erosivity of the wind and the erodibility of surfaces. Therefore, understanding the interactions between wind and vegetation is key for improving wind erosion modelling in desert landscapes. In this study, turbulent wind flow around three typical dryland vegetation elements (a grass clump, a shrub, and a tree) was examined in Namibia using high‐frequency (10 Hz) sonic anemometry. Spatial variations in mean wind velocity, as well as Reynolds stresses and coherent turbulent structures in the flow, were compared and related to the porosities and configurations of the study elements. A shelter parameter, originally proposed by Gandemer ( 1979 , Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamic 4 : 371–389), was derived to describe the combined impact of the different elements on the energy and variability of horizontal wind flow. Wind velocity was reduced by 70% in the immediate lee of the grass and 40% in the lee of the shrub, but velocity recovered exponentially to equilibrium over the same relative distance in both cases (~9 element heights downwind). Quadrant analysis of the high‐frequency wind flow data revealed that the grass clump induced a small recirculation zone in its lee, whereas the shrub did not. Also, higher Reynolds shear stress and higher ‘flow positivity magnitude’ [ratio of Q1 (outward interaction) and Q4 (sweep) quadrants to Q2 (ejection) and Q3 (inward interaction) quadrants] was generally observed in the wake of the grass. These differences arose because the porosity of the grass clump (53%) was lower than the porosity of the shrub (69%), and thus bleed flow through the shrub was more significant. The bluff‐body behaviour of the grass resulted in a more intense and more extensive sheltering effect than the shrub, which implies that overall sediment transport potential is lower in the wake of the grass. The tree displayed a different wake structure to the grass and shrub, owing to the elevation of its crown. A ‘bottom gap’ effect was observed, whereby wind velocities increased possibly due to streamline compression in the gap between the ground and the underside of the tree crown. Differences in flow momentum between the bottom gap and the low‐pressure leeward region of the crown are a probable explanation for the formation of a large recirculation vortex. The bottom gap effect led to decreased sheltering up to three tree heights downwind, but the surface became increasingly protected by the frontal impact of the crown over a further eight tree heights downwind (~30 m). The extraction of momentum from the air by the tree therefore resulted in a far more extensive sheltering effect compared to the grass and shrub. This study represents an important investigation of the impact of different vegetation types on turbulent wind flow, and results can be integrated as parameterizations into spatial sediment transport models that explore landscape‐scale change on semi‐vegetated desert surfaces. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

A field‐based parameterization of wind flow recovery in the lee of dryland plants

Wind erosion is a key component of land degradation in vulnerable dryland regions. Despite a wealth of studies investigating the impact of vegetation and windbreaks on windflow in controlled wind‐tunnel and modelling environments, there is still a paucity of empirical field data for accurately parameterizing the effect of vegetation in wind and sediment transport models. The aim of this study is to present a general parameterization of wind flow recovery in the lee of typical dryland vegetation elements (grass clumps and shrubs), based on their height (h ) and optical porosity (θ ). Spatial variations in mean wind velocity around eight isolated vegetation elements in Namibia (three grass clumps and five shrubs) were recorded at 0.30 m height, using a combination of sonic and cup anemometry sampled at a temporal frequency of 10 seconds. Wind flow recovery in the lee of the elements was parameterized in an exponential form, . The best‐fit parameters derived from the field data were u ₀ = u _ref(0.0146θ ? 0.4076) and b = 0.0105θ + 0.1627 . By comparing this parameterization to existing models, it is shown that wind recovery curves derived from two‐dimensional wind fence experiments may not be suitable analogues for describing airflow around more complex, three‐dimensional forms. Field‐derived parameterizations such as the one presented here are a crucial step for connecting plant‐scale windflow behaviour to dryland bedform development at landscape scales. © 2016 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

基于三维图像模式识别的西藏东南部地震灾害损失风险评估

本文在对西藏东南部各县的建筑类型、数量、易损性调查的基础上,对不同类型的建筑建立了模式类向量,使用三维图像模式识别技术估计了各类型建筑在西藏东南部各县市的数量分布,建立了不同建筑物的结构易损性和人口易损性模型,并且估算了西藏东南部各县在遭遇一次设定地震时的损失分布和基于危险性的未来50年可能的损失分布情况.本文研究表明,若曲松—桑日发生7.5级地震,可能造成拉萨、山南两市较重的人员伤亡,其中曲松县和乃东区伤亡最重.西藏东南部未来50年建筑地震风险最高的地区是拉萨市区、林芝市区和错那县,其中拉萨市区的建筑财产损失风险最高.     

The road map for seismic risk analysis in a Mediterranean city

The seismic risk analysis evaluation in the Mediterranean area is one of the main tasks for the preservation of Cultural Heritage and for the sustainable development of Mediterranean cities. The Mediterranean area is characterised by a medium–high level of seismic risk, so that earthquakes are the major cause for the destruction of monuments, residential and industrial buildings. A case history regarding the seismic risk analysis for the city of Catania (Italy) is presented, since the city has been heavy damaged in the past by strong earthquakes such as the 1169 earthquake (XI MCS), the 1542 earthquake (IX MCS), the 1693 earthquake (XI MCS) and the 1818 earthquake (VIII MCS) etc., which caused several thousands of deaths. Fault modelling, attenuation laws, synthetic accelerograms, recorded accelerograms and site effects are considered for the evaluation of the seismic action. Vulnerability of physical environment, related to the presence of cavities and to seismic-induced landslides and liquefaction has been analysed, with special reference to the new modelling of such phenomena and to the application of models to given areas. Soil–structure Interaction has been analysed for some geotechnical works, such as shallow foundation and retaining wall, by means of physical and numerical modelling. The paper deals with the vulnerability of physical environment (landslides, liquefaction, etc.), while the road map continues with the analysis of vulnerability of monuments and buildings, with the aim of the estimation of the seismic resistance required to defend against the seismic action given by the scenario earthquake. For the mitigation of seismic risk, structural improvements of R.C. buildings with different methodology and techniques have been analysed, as well as the guideline for the strengthening of buildings. The work shows that the seismic risk of the city is not a summation of the seismic risk of each building, because the vulnerability of the urban system plays an important role on the seismic risk evaluation of a given city. To this aim the vulnerability of the road infrastructures, lifelines, and urban framework have been also analysed in the project.     

太湖湖体水环境容量计算

针对太湖风生流的特点,提出考虑风向风速频率修正及污染带控制的水环境容量计算方法,建立了太湖水量水质数学模型,并结合水文水质资料对流场和浓度场进行模拟和验证.在控制单个污染带面积为1～3 km2,污染带总长度为湖岸线长度10%的基础上采用该方法进行计算,计算结果更可靠.太湖CODcr的水环境容量为132727 t/a,TN的水环境容量为7700 t/a.     

利用卫星温度资料计算风场的方法分析与比较

本文分析和比较了利用卫星温度资料计算水平风场的方法,包括地转风、梯度风和平衡风的计算方法.以DAAC提供的MLS/UARS 1992年12月份的大气温度数据为例,计算了20～55 km高度范围的地转风、梯度风和平衡风,并与ECMWF提供的ERA-40再分析风场资料作了对比和分析,包括12月16日以及12月月平均风场随纬度-高度的变化、风场随经度-纬度的变化、纬圈平均风场随纬度-高度的变化特征和规律.计算结果表明,利用卫星温度观测数据计算的风场与再分析资料的特征和规律基本一致.计算的地转风在高纬地区比梯度风和平衡风大,在中低纬地区三者的差别较小,随着纬度的增大,曲率项的影响也逐渐增大,在高纬地区不可忽略.平衡风在梯度风的基础上还考虑了大气平流项的影响,能更好地反映风场的变化特征,尤其是高纬地区经向风的变化规律.利用平衡风场的计算结果,文章首次定量地计算了平衡方程中各项的大小和比值,分析了各项的贡献和相对重要性.结果表明,重力位势梯度项的贡献最大,并且随着纬度的增大有升高的趋势;曲率项的贡献随着纬度的增大也有增大的趋势,在高纬度地区的比值超过10%;平流项占有一定的比值,其变化范围相对较大,变化规律比较复杂.     

矩形高层建筑扭转动力风荷载解析模型

本文通过研究不同长宽比、高宽比的矩形棱柱体在边界层风洞中典型攻角下的扭矩，提出了矩形高层建筑扭矩功率谱密度、均方根扭矩系数和Strouhal数的经验公式，并对相干函数作了一定的探讨，建立了完整的扭转动力风荷载解析模型。该模型和试验结果吻合较好，证明它是合理有效的，可在此基础上建立高层建筑扭转动力响应频域计算方法。     

Flow dynamics over a foredune scarp

The nature of wind flow over a small, 0.6 m high foredune scarp is investigated on the Sir Richard Peninsula, South Australia during a variety of incident wind directions and speeds. The study provides additional supporting evidence that the presence of the scarp and the dune exerts a strong influence on a landwards trending reduction in wind velocity and an increase in turbulence, with the greatest area of turbulence occurring near and at the foredune scarp base. For an incident oblique wind, an alongshore helicoidal flow is formed within a separation region along the scarp basal region. In this region, the coefficient of variation (CV) of wind speed is high and displays significant fluctuations. The flow at the scarp crest is compressed, streamlined and accelerated, turbulence is suppressed, and local jets may occur depending on the incident wind approach angle. Jets are more likely where the incident flow is perpendicular or nearly so. A flow separation region does not develop downwind of the scarp crest where the morphology of the foredune stoss slope downwind of the scarp is more convex (as in this case) rather than relatively flat, and possibly due to the presence of vegetation at the scarp crest. A tentative model of the flow regions developed across a backshore–scarp–foredune region during oblique incident flow is provided. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The application of integrated urban inundation model in Republic of Korea

In urban areas with a high building density, features such as roads, buildings and river dykes significantly affect flow dynamics and flood propagation. This should therefore be accounted for in the model set‐up. While 2D hydraulic models of densely urban areas are at the forefront of current research into flood inundation mechanisms, these models are constrained by inadequate parameters of topography and insufficient data. In order to solve these problems, topographic information obtained from digital elevation model (DEM) is directly programmed into the urban inundation model for a densely urban area, without exchanging the input data. In this paper, the extraction of building area is described using a tight coupling approach within a GIS environment, and its influence on the extent of flood inundation with a high building density is estimated. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Viscoelastic coupling dampers (VCDs) for enhanced wind and seismic performance of high‐rise buildings

As high‐rise buildings are built taller and more slender, their dynamic behavior becomes an increasingly critical design consideration. Wind‐induced vibrations cause an increase in the lateral wind design loads, but more importantly, they can be perceived by building occupants, creating levels of discomfort ranging from minor annoyance to severe motion sickness. The current techniques to address wind vibration perception include stiffening the lateral load‐resisting system, adding mass to the building, reducing the number of stories, or incorporating a vibration absorber at the top of the building; each solution has significant economic consequences for builders. Significant distributed damage is also expected in tall buildings under severe seismic loading, as a result of the ductile seismic design philosophy that is widely used for such structures. In this paper, the viscoelastic coupling damper (VCD) that was developed at the University of Toronto to increase the level of inherent damping of tall coupled shear wall buildings to control wind‐induced and earthquake‐induced dynamic vibrations is introduced. Damping is provided by incorporating VCDs in lieu of coupling beams in common structural configurations and therefore does not occupy any valuable architectural space, while mitigating building tenant vibration perception problems and reducing both the wind and earthquake responses of the structure. This paper provides an overview of this newly proposed system, its development, and its performance benefits as well as the overall seismic and wind design philosophy that it encompasses. Two tall building case studies incorporating VCDs are presented to demonstrate how the system results in more efficient designs. In the examples that are presented, the focus is on the wind and moderate earthquake responses that often govern the design of such tall slender structures while reference is made to other studies where the response of the system under severe seismic loading conditions is examined in more detail and where results from tests conducted on the viscoelastic material and the VCDs in full‐scale are presented. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the vulnerability assessment of monumental buildings

In all European countries the will to conserve the building heritage is very strong. Unfortunately, large areas in Europe are characterised by a high level of seismic hazard and the vulnerability of ancient masonry structures is often relevant. The large number of monumental buildings in urban areas requires facing the problem with a methodology that can be applied at territorial scale, with simplified models which need little easily obtainable, data. Within the Risk-UE project, a new methodology has been stated for the seismic vulnerability assessment of monumental buildings, which considers two different approaches: a macroseismic model, to be used with macroseismic intensity hazard maps, and a mechanical based model, to be applied when the hazard is provided in terms of peak ground accelerations and spectral values. Both models can be used with data of different reliability and depth. This paper illustrates the theoretical basis and defines the parameters of the two models. An application to an important church is presented.