CEE490b Feb.

13, 2002

REVIEW OF RESPONSE TO GUSTING WIND

The peak value of a random process is:

yˆ = y + gσ y

where ŷ = the peak value

y = the mean value
g = the peak factor
σ y = the RMS or standard deviation

Fig. 8.15 Probability distributions of all values and peak values

The peak factor is:

0.5772
g = 2 loge ν T + (8.36)
2 loge ν T

The cycling rate, or apparent frequency of the process is:

ν=
∫0
f 2S(f )df
(Hz) (8.34)
∞
∫0
S(f )df
ν ≈ f o for a narrow-band process (Hz)

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CEE490b Feb. 13, 2002

Point Structures

A point structure is one where the size of the structure is much less than the
wavelength of the turbulence, i.e. A << λ (f ) .

The drag force as a function of time is:

FD (t ) =
1
2
1
[
ρCD AV 2 (t ) = ρCD A V + v (t )
2
2
] (9.1)

and V >> v (t ) so,

1 2
FD (t ) = ρCD AV + ρCD AVv (t ) (9.2, 9.3)
2

The drag force as a function of time is equal to the mean drag force plus a
fluctuating component. This is a linearization of the general non-linear
equation describing the load due to turbulent wind.

The spectrum of force is equal to:

2
4F D
SF = 2
Sv ( f ) (9.5)
V

Large Structures

Real structures have characteristic lengths of the same order of that of the
turbulence, so this approximation will be overly conservative. The instantaneous
wind induced pressures are not fully correlated over the frontal area of the body, so
and “Aerodynamic Admittance” is introduced which takes this lack of spatial
correlation into account.

2 2
4F D  fL 
SF = χ   S v (f ) (9.7)
V V 

The argument: fL a measure of the size of the structure ( L = A ) to the

V
wavelength of the gust ( V = λf )
f

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CEE490b Feb. 13, 2002

2 2
 A A  A A
χ   → 1 as
 → 0 and χ   → 0 as
 →∞
 λf  λf  λf  λf

Fig.9.1 The Aerodynamic Admittance Function

National Building Code of Canada

Gust Factor Approach:

The peak response is related to the mean response via the gust effect factor:

yˆ = C g y

We have previously defined the peak response through a peak factor:

 σ 
yˆ = y + gσ y = y 1 + g y 
 y

σy
so, C g = 1 + g
y

The NBCC has a procedure for evaluating C g with the following assumptions:

i) Simple shapes of buildings

ii) 1st sway mode of the building, linear with height
iii) Mass distribution is constant with height
iv) Only drag is considered

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CEE490b Feb. 13, 2002

The NBCC Approach:

A pressure is applied to the exterior surface of the structure which is of the form:

[
P = qC g (C eC p )front − (C eC p ) back ]
where: P = the pressure
1 2
q = ρV ref = the mean reference velocity pressure
2
C g the gust effect coefficient
C e the exposure factor
C p the Aerodynamic Pressure Coefficient

C g = 1+ g p (σ uU
)
and

(σ u ) = K
Ce

 B +
SF 
β
 (6)
 

The wind-induced displacements are:

K  SF 
σy =U  B + 
Ce  β 

so, the wind-induced accelerations are:

y&& = (2πf ) 2 y

and since σ y2 = σ yB
2 2
+ σ yR , then, by analogy, σ y&2& = σ y&2&B + σ y&2&R

and the background and resonant components were:

∞
1
K 2 ∫0
σ y&2&B = (2πf ) 4 SF (f )df

1 π
σ y&2&R = 2
(2πfo ) 4 f o S F (f ) and σ y&2&B << σ y&2&R
K 4D

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CEE490b Feb. 13, 2002

Now, back to the NBCC:

σ y&& ≅ (2πfo ) 2 σ yR
K sF
≅ (2πfo ) 2 y
Ce β

the peak acceleration is:

aˆ ≅ g pσ y&&
K sF
≅ (2πf o ) 2 g p y
Ce β
ˆ
and y= y
Cg

so:
yˆ K sF
y&ˆ& = aˆ = (2πf o ) 2 g p (8)
Cg Ce β

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