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Spatial Distribution of Gusty Loads on a Rectangular Prism in Boundary Layer Flows

  • Structural Engineering
  • Published:
KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Aims and scope

Abstract

The pressure fluctuations acting on a stationary rectangular prism with cross configuration (2:1/1:2) are investigated by wind tunnel testing. The synchronous surface pressures on the rigid model were measured in simulated atmospheric boundary layer flow and the unsteady forces were calculated by numerical integral of surface pressures. The effects of the wind fields and the model’s side ratio on the aerodynamic coefficients, spectral characteristics and spatial correlation of aerodynamic loading were investigated. The main purpose of this study is to further analyze the spatial structure of the fluctuating wind loads acting on a rectangular prism as well as to use the cross correlation coefficient and coherence function to explore their distribution trends. The results show that the along-wind gust loading is consistent with the longitudinal turbulence and the across-wind aerodynamic force is mainly induced by the vortex-shedding, recirculation and reattachment of separation shear layers on the lateral sides. In practical applications, the Strouhal number is approximately constant along the height. Extended empirical coherence models of the fluctuating along-wind and across-wind loads are proposed with consideration to the effects of wind fields, the structure characteristics and dimensions of the prism and length scale.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Wind Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, PR China

    Jiadong Zeng, Mingshui Li & Shaopeng Li

  2. Key Laboratory for Wind Engineering of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, PR China

    Mingshui Li

  3. School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, PR China

    Ruwei Ma

Authors
  1. Jiadong Zeng
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  2. Mingshui Li
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  3. Shaopeng Li
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  4. Ruwei Ma
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Correspondence to Mingshui Li.

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Zeng, J., Li, M., Li, S. et al. Spatial Distribution of Gusty Loads on a Rectangular Prism in Boundary Layer Flows. KSCE J Civ Eng 22, 3052–3065 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-017-0465-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-017-0465-5

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