Acrosswind aeroelastic response of square tall buildings: a semi-analytical approach based of wind tunnel tests on rigid models

The present paper is focused on the prediction of the acrosswind aeroelastic response of square tall buildings. In particular, a semi-analytical procedure is proposed based on the assumption that square tall buildings, for reduced velocities corresponding to operational conditions, do not experience vortex shedding resonance or galloping and fall in the range of positive aerodynamic damping. Under these conditions, aeroelastic wind tunnel tests can be unnecessary and the response can be correctly evaluated using wind tunnel tests on rigid models and analytical modeling of the aerodynamic damping. The proposed procedure consists of two phases. First, simultaneous measurements of the pressure time histories are carried out in the wind tunnel on rigid models, in order to obtain the aerodynamic forces. Then, aeroelastic forces are analytically evaluated and the structural response is computed through direct integration of the equations of motion considering the contribution of both the aerodynamic and aeroelastic forces. The procedure, which gives a conservative estimate of the aeroelastic response, has the advantage that aeroelastic tests are avoided, at least in the preliminary design phase.