Structural Response in Transient Winds of Hurricane and Non-synoptic Events

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 March 2022) | Viewed by 13230

Special Issue Editors

Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
Interests: wind engineering; bridge engineering; structural engineering; hurricane resilience; machine learning; climate change
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Guest Editor
College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Interests: bridge and structural wind engineering; computational fluid dynamics; structural finite element analysis and software development
1. School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China
2. National Engineering Laboratory for High Speed Railway Construction, Changsha 410075, China
Interests: bridge wind engineering; computational fluid dynamics numerical simulation; bridge health monitoring

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nonstationary features of extreme winds (e.g., during hurricane or non-synoptic events) and their associated transient aerodynamics present significant importance for the accurate modeling of wind-induced effects on structures; however, they are neither fully understood nor well captured by state-of-the-art analysis procedures. Hence, there is a need to gain a better understanding of the nature of non-synoptic winds and hurricanes (characteristic of wind inputs) and transient wind load effects (from wind inputs to load outputs). In addition, the transient bluff-body aerodynamics may result in some unique structural response features. This Special Issue aims to collect submissions on the recent numerical and experimental advances in nonstationary wind simulation, modeling of transient bluff-body aerodynamics, and analysis of transient wind-induced structural response. Case studies describing applications of novel technologies to the wind-resistance design of structures and bridges are also welcome. 

Prof. Dr. Teng Wu
Prof. Dr. Zhitian Zhang
Dr. Lei Yan
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • nonstationary winds
  • transient aerodynamics
  • structural dynamics
  • hurricanes
  • downbursts
  • tornadoes

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 6659 KiB  
Article
Wind Forces and Flow Patterns of Three Tandem Prisms with a Small Height–Width Ratio
by Kun Du and Bo Chen
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(4), 2254; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12042254 - 21 Feb 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1333
Abstract
Wind tunnel tests and large eddy simulations were conducted to investigate the dependency of wind forces and flow patterns on the spacing (S) for three tandem prisms with a small height–width ratio H/W = 0.4. At the spacing ratio S/W = [...] Read more.
Wind tunnel tests and large eddy simulations were conducted to investigate the dependency of wind forces and flow patterns on the spacing (S) for three tandem prisms with a small height–width ratio H/W = 0.4. At the spacing ratio S/W = 0.7, mean and root-mean-square drag of downstream prisms have large local peaks, and their magnitudes are larger than those at adjacent spacing ratios; these should be noted to ensure the safety and economy of the wind-resistant design of prism-like low-rise buildings. These phenomena are different from that of a small group of tandem prisms with a large H/W and a large group of tandem prisms with a small H/W. At S/W = 0.7, tap pressure time histories of downstream prisms are non-stationary with abrupt changes, but wind force time histories of downstream prisms are stationary, unlike a small group of tandem prisms with a large H/W, where both tap pressure and win d force time histories are non-stationary. Above phenomena at S/W = 0.7 are attributed to a special asymmetric time-averaged wake regime, which has two modes with symmetric wake flow directions and they irregularly switch. The duration of each mode is ruleless. This special wake regime was not observed in previous studies on tandem prisms. Full article
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21 pages, 4699 KiB  
Article
The Spatial Structure of Passively Simulated Atmospheric Boundary Layer Turbulence
by Jiadong Zeng, Zhitian Zhang, Mingshui Li and Zhiguo Li
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(24), 11934; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app112411934 - 15 Dec 2021
Viewed by 1051
Abstract
Three types of turbulence fields were investigated using a research method combining wind tunnel tests and theoretical analysis to further explore the spatial structure of atmospheric boundary layer turbulence, which was passively simulated by a wind tunnel. The fundamental theory of turbulence is [...] Read more.
Three types of turbulence fields were investigated using a research method combining wind tunnel tests and theoretical analysis to further explore the spatial structure of atmospheric boundary layer turbulence, which was passively simulated by a wind tunnel. The fundamental theory of turbulence is introduced, and some traditional theoretical coherence models based on isotropic turbulence theory are derived. The difference between the theoretical results and the passive simulation of atmospheric boundary layer turbulence was compared and discussed. The analysis results show that the passively simulated atmospheric turbulence basically conformed to the homogeneous isotropic turbulence assumption on the horizontal plane, but the interference of the nonisotropic turbulence components cannot be ignored either. Finally, some improvements were made to the traditional coherence function model based on the experimental results to apply the passively simulated atmospheric boundary layer turbulence. Full article
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25 pages, 5382 KiB  
Article
Flutter Derivatives Identification and Uncertainty Quantification for Bridge Decks Based on the Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm and Bootstrap Technique
by Zhouquan Feng and Yang Lin
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(23), 11376; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app112311376 - 01 Dec 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1778
Abstract
This paper presents a novel parameter identification and uncertainty quantification method for flutter derivatives estimation of bridge decks. The proposed approach is based on free-decay vibration records of a sectional model in wind tunnel tests, which consists of parameter identification by a heuristic [...] Read more.
This paper presents a novel parameter identification and uncertainty quantification method for flutter derivatives estimation of bridge decks. The proposed approach is based on free-decay vibration records of a sectional model in wind tunnel tests, which consists of parameter identification by a heuristic optimization algorithm in the sense of weighted least squares and uncertainty quantification by a bootstrap technique. The novel contributions of the method are on three fronts. Firstly, weighting factors associated with vertical and torsional motion in the objective function are determined more reasonably using an iterative procedure rather than preassigned. Secondly, flutter derivatives are identified using a hybrid heuristic and classical optimization method, which integrates a modified artificial bee colony algorithm with the Powell’s algorithm. Thirdly, a statistical bootstrap technique is used to quantify the uncertainties of flutter derivatives. The advantages of the proposed method with respect to other methods are faster and more accurate achievement of the global optimum, and refined uncertainty quantification in the identified flutter derivatives. The effectiveness and reliability of the proposed method are validated through noisy data of a numerically simulated thin plate and experimental data of a bridge deck sectional model. Full article
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29 pages, 8803 KiB  
Article
Wind Tunnel Test on Windblown Sand Two-Phase Flow Characteristics in Arid Desert Regions
by Bin Huang, Zhengnong Li, Zhitian Zhang, Zhefei Zhao and Bo Gong
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(23), 11349; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app112311349 - 30 Nov 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1916
Abstract
Windblown sand two-phase flow characteristics become an essential factor in evaluating the windblown sand load on infrastructures and civil structures. Based on the measured wind characteristics in arid desert regions, windblown sand flow fields with three kinds of sand beds are simulated in [...] Read more.
Windblown sand two-phase flow characteristics become an essential factor in evaluating the windblown sand load on infrastructures and civil structures. Based on the measured wind characteristics in arid desert regions, windblown sand flow fields with three kinds of sand beds are simulated in the wind tunnel, respectively. The results indicate that the characteristic saltation height of sand particles increases with the wind speed and particle size in the windblown sand flow field. As the sand concentration increases, the wind speed decreases, and the turbulence intensity increases. The concentration, energy, and impact pressure of sand particles increase with increasing wind speed and decrease exponentially with increasing height. At the same wind speed, the concentration, energy, and impact pressure of the coarse sand, fine sand, and mixed sand increases, in turn. Moreover, the variation of kinetic energy with height is similar to that of total energy with height and the proportion of potential energy to total energy is quite small. Full article
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26 pages, 19838 KiB  
Article
Wind Characteristics in Mountainous Valleys Obtained through Field Measurement
by Feng Wang, Xinming Chen, Rui He, Yan Liu, Jianming Hao and Jiawu Li
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(16), 7717; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11167717 - 22 Aug 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1844
Abstract
The wind characteristics of the mountainous environment in Western China are extremely complex. Many advances have occurred in the study of wind characteristics in plains or hilly areas. However, some limitations remain in the study of mountain passes and riverbanks. We selected a [...] Read more.
The wind characteristics of the mountainous environment in Western China are extremely complex. Many advances have occurred in the study of wind characteristics in plains or hilly areas. However, some limitations remain in the study of mountain passes and riverbanks. We selected a mountain pass and river beach in a certain area as the research objects, then set up observation instruments at different locations to establish temporary observation stations to collect more than one year of measured data. By processing the measurement data during the observation period, the mean wind characteristics and fluctuating wind characteristics of the area were obtained. Through comparison with the standard, we found strong nonstationary characteristics of the wind, such as large deviations between the wind field characteristics values in the standard and measured values, proving the need for wind field observations of mountain passes and riverbanks. Full article
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20 pages, 8087 KiB  
Article
Probability Characteristics, Area Reduction, and Wind Directionality Effects of Extreme Pressure Coefficients of High-Rise Buildings
by Shouke Li, Feipeng Xiao, Yunfeng Zou, Shouying Li, Shucheng Yang, Chao Feng and Yuankun Chen
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(15), 7121; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11157121 - 31 Jul 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1692
Abstract
Wind tunnel tests are carried out for the Commonwealth Advisory Aeronautical Research Council (CAARC) high-rise building with a scale of 1:400 in exposure categories D. The distribution law of extreme pressure coefficients under different conditions is studied. Probability distribution fitting is performed on [...] Read more.
Wind tunnel tests are carried out for the Commonwealth Advisory Aeronautical Research Council (CAARC) high-rise building with a scale of 1:400 in exposure categories D. The distribution law of extreme pressure coefficients under different conditions is studied. Probability distribution fitting is performed on the measured area-averaged extreme pressure coefficients. The general extreme value (GEV) distribution is preferred for probability distribution fitting of extreme pressure coefficients. From the comparison between the area-averaged coefficients and the value from GB50009-2012, it is indicated that the wind load coefficients from GB50009-2012 may be non-conservative for the CAARC building. The area reduction effect on the extreme wind pressure is smaller than that on the mean wind pressure from the code. The recommended formula of the area reduction factor for the extreme pressure coefficient is proposed in this study. It is found that the mean and the coefficient of variation (COV) for the directionality factors are 0.85 and 0.04, respectively, when the orientation of the building is given. If the uniform distribution is given for the building’s orientation, the mean value of the directionality factors is 0.88, which is close to the directionality factor of 0.90 given in the Chinese specifications. Full article
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18 pages, 9760 KiB  
Article
A Novel Shape Finding Method for the Main Cable of Suspension Bridge Using Nonlinear Finite Element Approach
by Weiliang Zhu, Yaojun Ge, Genshen Fang and Jinxin Cao
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(10), 4644; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11104644 - 19 May 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2184
Abstract
The determination of the final cable shape under the self-weight of the suspension bridge enables its safe construction and operation. Most existing studies solve the cable shape segment-by-segment in the Lagrangian coordinate system. This paper develops a novel shape finding method for the [...] Read more.
The determination of the final cable shape under the self-weight of the suspension bridge enables its safe construction and operation. Most existing studies solve the cable shape segment-by-segment in the Lagrangian coordinate system. This paper develops a novel shape finding method for the main cable of suspension bridge using nonlinear finite element approach with Eulerian description. The governing differential equations for a three-dimensional spatial main cable is developed before a one-dimensional linear shape function is introduced to solve the cable shape utilizing the Newton iteration method. The proposed method can be readily reduced to solve the two-dimensional parallel cable shape. Two iteration layers are required for the proposed method. The shape finding process has no need for the information of the cable material or cross section using the present technique. The commonly used segmental catenary method is compared with the present method using three cases study, i.e., a 1666-m-main-span earth-anchored suspension bridge with 2D parallel and 3D spatial main cables as well as a 300-m-main-span self-anchored suspension bridge with 3D spatial main cables. Numerical studies and iteration results show that the proposed shape finding technique is sufficiently accurate and operationally convenient to achieve the target configuration of the main cable. Full article
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