Interference Effects on the Wind Load Evaluation of a High Building Group by Wind Tunnel Tests

ADRIÁN R. WITTWER; MARIO E. DE BORTOLI; JORGE O. MARIGHETTI; SANDRA U. LEZCANO; ACIR M. LOREDO-SOUZA

Porto Alegre

Conferencia; 14th International Conference on Wind Engineering, ICWE14; 2015

LAC, UFRGS

The Argentine wind code CIRSOC 102 specifies wind load factor values for structures of regular shapes. When the structure has unusual shapes or significant neighborhood effects, the regulation suggests studies in wind tunnels. This paper presents the results of studies realized in the UNNE Wind Tunnel to assess wind loads on three tower projected in Mar del Plata City, Argentina. Tests were conducted with natural wind simulation according to the local terrain roughness. Incident wind changes caused by neighboring buildings were evaluated from measurements of mean and fluctuating velocities. Local pressure, global force and moment coefficients on each tower model were measured for twelve wind directions. Changes caused by the interference of the model itself on the incident wind characteristics were determined. To analyze the effects of interference due to the proximity between the three towers, the results obtained were compared with values measured considering the highest tower isolated. The analysis of the results shows the importance to simulate the incident wind characteristics and the neighborhood influence and complementary evaluations of instantaneous pressures and pedestrian comfort are suggested.