IntermediateTopic 62 of 112Civil & Structural
Wind engineering
Wind pressure depends on speed, height, shape and terrain.
In depth
Wind pressure q=½ρV²C_pC_e with exposure and height factors; gust factors for dynamics. Towers can suffer vortex shedding, galloping and flutter; wind tunnel tests and CFD refine loads. Cladding and uplift on roofs need local pressure coefficients.
Key points
- Basic wind speed maps
- Terrain categories
- Along-wind and across-wind response
ExampleTall buildings are tapered or twisted to reduce vortex-induced vibration.
Wind loads can govern the design of tall buildings, roofs and bridges, so their accurate estimation is an essential design step.
What is Wind engineering?
Wind pressure depends on speed, height, shape and terrain.
Why is it important to understand wind engineering?
Wind loads can govern the design of tall buildings, roofs and bridges, so their accurate estimation is an essential design step.
What affects wind pressure on a building?
Wind speed, height above ground, terrain roughness, building shape and local features such as corners and edges.
Why are tall buildings sensitive to wind?
They experience higher speeds and can vibrate, so wind may govern stiffness and comfort as well as strength.
How is Wind engineering used in practice?
Typical applications include calculating the wind pressure on a cladding panel of a high-rise building, designing a roof to resist uplift in a hurricane-prone area and checking the wind load on a long span bridge deck.
What should I learn before Wind engineering?
Study "Masonry design" first (topic 61 of 112 in Civil & Structural). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
What are the key points of Wind engineering?
Basic wind speed maps. Terrain categories. Along-wind and across-wind response.
Can you give an example of Wind engineering?
Tall buildings are tapered or twisted to reduce vortex-induced vibration.
What comes after Wind engineering?
The next topic is "Seismic design", which builds directly on this one.
How difficult is Wind engineering?
It is classed as Intermediate in Civil & Structural (topic 62 of 112). It is an intermediate topic. Work through the beginner topics in Civil & Structural first.