Wind-induced torsional loads on low-rise buildings

摘要

This paper presents a set of wind tunnel tests that are carried out to examine wind-induced torsional loads on low-rise buildings. Three low-rise buildings were tested in the Building Aerodynamics Laboratory located in the Engineering Complex at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. Two low-rise buildings (scale 1:400) with a flat and 4:12 gabled roof slope (having the same dimensions) were examined in open and urban terrain exposures for a half wind direction cycle (every 15°). In addition, a model (scale 1:200) of an actual low-rise building in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada and its surroundings has been tested in three wind tunnel tests. Two of latter set of tests were conducted for the building model with a complete simulation of its surroundings in open and urban terrain exposures for a complete cycle by 10° increments. The building was also tested in an open terrain exposure without any surroundings. Peak, mean, and minimum base torsion and shear force for each azimuth were evaluated for all tests. In general, the measured results indicated that the maximum torsional moment on low-rise buildings could be simulated by applying 75% of the full wind loads (maximum shear) with additional 15% equivalent eccentricity of the facing building dimension.