Investigation of wind effect reduction on square high-rise buildings by corner modification

Although empirical formulas have been provided in relevant design code for estimating wind loads and wind-induced responses on square high-rise buildings, the effects of corner modification treatments on wind loads and wind-induced responses of square high-rise buildings need to be evaluated quantitatively. In this study, wind pressure measurements for a benchmark square high-rise building and three corner modified square high-rise buildings were first carried out to acquire the spatial-temporal varying pressure distributions. Moreover, the corresponding full-scale finite element models were established in ANSYS software to get their dynamic properties. Combined with wind tunnel test results and modal analysis, wind loads and wind-induced responses of the four square high-rise buildings were calculated and compared for designing the best aerodynamic treatment of reducing wind effects on square high-rise buildings. This article aims to provide visual comparisons of wind effect reduction for structural designers and owners of square high-rise buildings

Aerodynamic treatments for reduction of wind loads on high-rise buildings

For investigation of the effects of building corner modifications on reduction of wind loads on high-rise buildings, a benchmark square model and three corner modified models including recessed, chamfered and rounded are tested by pressure measurements in a boundary layer wind tunnel. Based on the experimental results, mean wind pressure coefficients, base moment coefficients, local wind force coefficients, power spectral densities and vertical correlation coefficients of the three corner modified models are discussed and compared with those of the square model to provide comprehensive evaluations of the effects of the aerodynamic treatments on reductions of the wind loads. This paper aims to provide useful information for the wind-resistant design of high-rise buildings