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Received 27 November 2000; received in revised form 21 May 2001; accepted 30 May 2001
Abstract
The Natural wind in the wind tunnel was simulated at the University of Roorkee (India) on the basis of full/model-scale compari-
son. For this, the Texas Tech University (TTU) building model was fabricated on a geometric scale of 1:50 and tested in the
simulated wind for comparison of the pressures with full-scale values. A hip roof building model (geometric scale 1:50) of plan
dimensions 280 mm×140 mm×58 mm (eave height) with 30° roof slope was selected as the test building (T.B.) so as to examine
interference with a similar building as well as three similar buildings placed on the upstream side at fifteen different locations (Fig.
2). A quadrant portion of the model roof was divided into ten different zones to see the effect of interference at critical roof
positions. Significant effects have been observed. 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Low-rise structures; Flow simulation; Pressure coefficients; TTU building; Hip roof; Interference
0141-0296/01/$ - see front matter 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 1 4 1 - 0 2 9 6 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 0 5 7 - 8
1578 S. Ahmad, K. Kumar / Engineering Structures 23 (2001) 1577–1589
increase in the magnitude of the negative roof pressures difficult. The best that can be expected from more study
occurred when added with one extra half row of houses is a widened database with possibly some kind of gen-
was added to each side of an isolated low-set house. eralization for different “categories” of situations.
He also concluded that the shielding effect of upwind In its extension, a detailed and systematic interference
buildings is dependent strongly on the ratio of building effect study with various combinations of interfering
spacing to height. buildings on the upstream side on 30° hip roof with large
Stathopoulos [15] studied the effect of a tall nearby 1.1 m overhang has been attempted in the present study.
building on the wind loading of low buildings (5, 7.5 30° roof was selected as a test building because it seems
and 10 m high) with gable roofs in a wind tunnel at to be frequently used. The probability distributions of
1:250 geometric scale in two different terrain conditions the critical pressures of the corner and the roof ridge taps
(a=0.14 and a=0.20). The interfering building size was and the standard Gaussian density function have been
38 m×38 m×76 m. The results indicate significant shown in Fig. 8(a) and (b). In Fig. 8(a) there are moder-
increase of the pressure coefficients under conditions of ate deviations from the Gaussian distribution on negative
buffeting caused by a tall building. He further concluded tail, which indicates a higher probability for the larger
that the complexity of the problem of evaluation of wind negative pressures and a lower probability for the larger
loads on low buildings under buffeting conditions indi- positive pressures than a Gaussian distribution function
cates that, with the present state-of-the-art, it would be would predict. However, if compared with the roof ridge
extremely difficult to treat this nearby building situation tap [Fig. 8(b)] the deviation of probability density distri-
with any degree of generality. At present, for building bution from the Gaussian function is much smaller,
code purposes, this problem could be treated by provid- which indicates that very high suction at roof corner
ing possible adverse situations and recommending to occurs than the roof ridge.
seek specialist advice and possibly to perform special
wind tunnel tests. 1.1. Experimental program
In a detailed study on the effect of adjacent low-rise
building blocks on wind pressure distributions and heat Experiments were carried out in an open circuit wind
loss due to uncontrolled ventilation for a single family tunnel having a test section 15 m long, 2.1 m wide and
house, Wiren [22] measured the average pressure coef- 2.0 m high at the University of Roorkee (India).
ficients for two similar low-rise, sloped roof buildings A 30° hip roof model at a geometric scale of 1:50 was
in tandem arrangement vis-à-vis a similar isolated build- constructed representing a building of 14 m×7 m plan
ing for different angles of wind attack. It was found that dimension and having a 2.9 m eave height (Fig. 1) with
one house located upwind of the last house had a sig- a large overhang of 1.1 m. One hundred and twenty-
nificant effect on the pressures over all building surfaces four taps were arranged on the entire 30° roof. Particular
at small wind angles. This effect decreased and became attention has been paid to the number and positions of
negligible (compared to isolated building values) at the taps near the hip ridge, roof ridge and roof edge,
about 30° angle of wind attack for all house surfaces from where the air flow may get separated to form a
except the windward façade walls and at about 90° angle region of high velocity gradients with high local turbu-
of wind attack for the windward façade walls. lence and vorticity.
Kumar [10] studied the interference effect on a gable Models were also constructed to allow testing the
pitched roof building of a similar building and found that effect of a similar building and three similar buildings
the effect of interference is maximum when the spacing upwind of the test building. For the case of a similar
between the two buildings is between 0.25 and 0.50 of interfering building, the test building was placed in such
the width of the building. a way that the wind direction 0° is normal to the ridge.
Stathopoulos [16] carried out wind tunnel tests to Fifteen locations for the interfering building model were
examine the effect of the location of trees in the vicinity designated on the turntable. The schematic diagram for
of a low-rise building and concluded that pressure coef- the locations of the interfering building model is shown
ficients for the building with adjacent trees are generally in Fig. 2. The locations are numbered 1, 2, …, 15. The
lower than those specified by wind standards and codes centre of the interfering model coincides with the centre
of practice. Hussain and Lee [8], Tsutsumiet al. [20] and of the grid at each location. For every location of the
Ho et al. [4] also reported the significant effect of sur- interfering building the angle of wind incidence has been
rounding buildings on wind pressures on low-rise build- varied from 0° to 90° at an increment of 15° and the
ings. Khanduri et al. [9], in their state-of-the-art paper, surface pressure over the building roof measured for
have discussed enormous possible interference effects in each orientation. The observed values of area averaged
low as well as in high rise structures. mean, peak, rms and design wind pressure coefficients
Since numerous situations are possible amongst the for each zone of the building have been normalized by
possible surroundings for a building or group thereof, the corresponding value for the stand-alone (isolated)
generalization of results for the effect of interference is condition. The result is the Interference Factor (IF).
S. Ahmad, K. Kumar / Engineering Structures 23 (2001) 1577–1589 1579
Fig. 1. Model configuration and pressure taps location for hip roof.
Fig. 3. Mean velocity profile comparison between full scale and
model scale (TTU data [2]).
Fig. 4. Turbulence intensity profile comparison between full scale Fig. 6. Auto correlation plot at eave height.
and model scale (TTU data [2]).
Fig. 8. Probability density function curve for (a) corner tap and (b) roof ridge tap.
Fig. 9. TTU building, Cpmean, Cprms and Cpmin for roof tap No. 50101.
1582 S. Ahmad, K. Kumar / Engineering Structures 23 (2001) 1577–1589
2. Results and discussion 2.1.2. Roof tap other than corner tap 50505
Variations of Cpmean, Cprms, Cpmin with angle of wind
2.1. Study of TTU building model incidence are shown in Fig. 10. The values obtained in
the test have been compared with CSU RII flow simu-
2.1.1. Corner roof tap 50101 lated values and TTU full scale values. Values obtained
The observed Cpmean, Cprms and Cpmin have been plot- in the present study have been found to be in better
ted against angle of wind incidence varying from 0° to agreement with the full-scale values than those of the
360° and compared with the prototype values. It has CSU RII experiment. The Cpmin has also been found to
been found that Cpmean and Cprms agree closely with the match closely with the full-scale values for wind azi-
prototype values. However, Cpmin does not show a good muths between 180° and 270°.
match for wind azimuths between 180° and 270° (Fig.
9) but it is well matched with CSU RII flow simulated 2.1.3. Wall tap 42206
values on the same geometric scale. This may be due to The variations of Cpmean, Cprms and Cpmin with angle
conical vortex formation where separation of the air bub- of wind incidence are shown in Fig. 11. The values have
ble started. Similar results have also been reported by been compared with the full-scale values and a good
others [3,11,12,14,17–19]. agreement with the prototype values has been found.
Fig. 10. TTU building, Cpmean, Cprms and Cpmin for roof tap No. 50505.
S. Ahmad, K. Kumar / Engineering Structures 23 (2001) 1577–1589 1583
Fig. 11. TTU building, Cpmean, Cprms and Cpmin for roof tap No. 42206.
2.2. Interference effect on hip roof models 28) for zone 5 and maximum shielding of 32% was
obtained for position 9 (⫺42, 0) in zone 2 of the roof
2.2.1. A similar building interference (Fig. 14). A maximum increment for Cpmean of 41% was
Both shielding and amplification was observed in the found for interfering building position 10 (⫺42, 28) in
various wind pressure coefficients (Cp) due to inter- zone 1 and a maximum shielding of 34% was found for
ference from similar neighbouring building(s). In the position 9 (⫺42, 0) in zone 2 of the hip roof (Fig. 15).
case of interference from a single building, maximum The maximum values for Cpmean, Cprms, Cpmin and Cpq in
enhancement in the design pressure coefficients (Cpq) each zone with the position of interfering building are
was observed to be 56% for interfering building position given in Tables 1–4.
5 (⫺28, 28) in zone 5 and maximum shielding of 33% In summary, for the interference from a single ident-
was found to occur for interfering building position 9 ical building, the maximum enhancement was found to
(⫺42, 0) in zone 2 of the roof (Fig. 12). Maximum vary from zone to zone for different Cps but the
enhancement of 52% for Cpmin was observed for inter- maximum shielding was found to be in zone 2 in most
fering building position 4 (0, 70) in zone 7 and cases.
maximum shielding of 11% was observed for interfering
building position 9 (⫺42, 0) in zone 2 of the hip roof 2.2.2. Interference from three similar buildings
(Fig. 13). Maximum amplification for Cprms was 66% In the case of interference from three identical build-
and was found for interfering building position 5 (⫺28, ings also, both enhancement and shielding was again
1584 S. Ahmad, K. Kumar / Engineering Structures 23 (2001) 1577–1589
Fig. 12. Interference factor contours for Cpq for zone 2 and zone 5 of a similar building interference (all azimuths).
Fig. 13. Interference factor contours for Cpmean for zone 2 and zone 7 of a similar building interference (all azimuths).
observed (Table 5). For most of the interfering building 8 and the maximum shielding was found to be 37% for
positions shielding was observed for the different Cps. positions 1–9–14 in zone 1. Maximum enhancement for
The maximum enhancement for Cpq was found to be Cprms was 61% and was observed for interfering building
53% for interfering buildings positions 3–12–14 in zone positions 3–10–12 in zone 6 and the maximum shielding
8 and the maximum shielding of 50% for the same was was 25% for positions 1–9–14 in zones 1 and 2.
observed for building positions 1–9–14 in zone 1. Maximum amplification for Cpmean was 64% and was
Maximum amplification for Cpmin was observed to be found for interfering buildings positions 3–12–14 in
73% for interfering buildings positions 3–9–12 in zone zone 8 whereas maximum shielding of 69% was
S. Ahmad, K. Kumar / Engineering Structures 23 (2001) 1577–1589 1585
Fig. 14. Interference factor contours for Cprms for zone 2 and zone 5 of a similar building interference (all azimuths).
Fig. 15. Interference factor contours for Cpmean for zone 1 and zone 2 of a similar building interference (all azimuths).
obtained in zone 1 for positions 1–9–14. The maximum positions 3–9–12) of the hip roof for most of the inter-
values for Cpmean, Cprms, Cpmin and Cpq in each zone, with fering building positions (in all 11 sets considered) for
the corresponding positions of interfering buildings are different Cps whereas shielding was found to occur for
given in Tables 6–9. zone 1 and 2 for all Cps for various interfering building
In summary, maximum enhancement in wind press- positions with the maximum shielding for Cpmean
ures due to interference from three identical buildings (IF=0.31) observed for zone1 for interfering building
was observed for zone 8 (IF for Cpmin=1.73 for building positions 3–5–12.
1586 S. Ahmad, K. Kumar / Engineering Structures 23 (2001) 1577–1589
Table 1 Table 3
Maximum interference factor for Cpq, all azimuths and 30° pitch roof Maximum interference factor for Cprms, all azimuths and 30° pitch roof
(interference with a similar building) (interference with a similar building)
Table 2 Table 4
Maximum interference factor for Cpmin, all azimuths and 30° pitch roof Maximum interference factor for Cpmean, all azimuths and 30° pitch
(interference with a similar building) roof (interference with a similar building)
Table 5
Interference factors for different zones (all azimuths) for Cpmean, Cpmin, Cpq and Cprms due to interference with three similar buildings
Location Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4 Zone 5 Zone 6 Zone 7 Zone 8 Zone 9 Zone 10
Cpmean
1–9–10 0.327 0.439 0.865 0.972 1.045 0.885 0.648 0.791 0.784 0.884
1–9–14 0.313 0.446 0.874 0.981 1.082 0.863 0.642 0.811 0.649 0.895
1–13–14 0.332 0.567 0.878 1.007 1.075 0.871 0.697 0.905 0.724 0.943
2–13–15 0.432 0.588 1.099 1.041 1.095 1.107 0.807 1.013 0.731 1.092
2–11–13 0.398 0.519 1.122 0.883 0.949 0.896 1.203 1.512 0.635 0.935
2–9–11 0.343 0.477 1.166 0.870 0.991 0.914 0.968 1.200 0.720 0.935
3–9–12 0.431 0.533 1.251 0.920 1.029 0.902 0.828 1.029 0.847 0.953
3–12–13 0.453 0.559 1.231 0.955 1.006 0.909 0.851 1.046 0.896 1.025
3–12–14 0.463 0.671 1.071 0.974 1.042 1.188 1.292 1.648 0.708 0.995
3–10–12 0.433 0.620 0.983 0.960 1.032 1.219 0.702 0.903 0.732 0.980
3–5–12 0.491 0.662 0.946 0.951 1.038 1.072 0.754 1.955 0.953 0.945
Cpmin
1–9–10 0.808 0.834 1.013 1.196 1.132 1.051 1.102 1.378 1.238 1.119
1–9–14 0.630 0.809 1.062 1.217 1.180 1.114 1.177 1.248 1.194 1.121
1–13–14 0.696 0.729 0.977 1.091 1.117 1.219 1.110 1.360 1.367 1.150
2–13–15 0.737 0.859 1.538 1.203 1.024 1.125 1.329 1.727 1.424 1.244
2–11–13 0.808 0.798 1.478 1.283 1.153 1.101 1.201 1.383 1.139 1.412
2–9–11 0.781 0.872 1.112 1.298 1.216 1.081 1.084 1.410 1.228 1.227
3–9–12 0.851 0.791 1.208 1.192 1.181 1.183 1.533 1.734 1.432 1.195
3–12–13 0.880 0.791 1.206 1.286 1.091 1.053 1.293 1.499 1.457 1.329
3–12–14 0.802 0.903 1.209 1.198 1.174 1.431 1.214 1.550 1.197 1.269
3–10–12 0.853 0.807 1.192 1.192 1.176 1.888 1.107 1.342 1.310 1.341
3–5–12 0.801 0.751 1.026 1.114 1.219 1.298 1.192 1.266 1.473 1.216
Cpq
1–9–10 0.513 0.662 1.088 1.221 1.155 1.041 0.845 1.017 1.047 1.096
1–9–14 0.502 0.613 1.001 1.220 1.260 0.963 0.824 1.016 1.013 1.049
1–13–14 0.544 0.731 1.003 1.200 1.218 0.972 0.922 1.194 1.020 1.065
2–13–15 0.603 0.733 1.100 1.184 1.148 1.096 0.964 1.234 1.064 1.189
2–11–13 0.542 0.659 1.195 1.067 1.069 0.948 1.056 1.325 0.918 1.052
2–9–11 0.509 0.612 1.207 1.123 1.122 0.935 0.977 1.212 0.969 1.053
3–9–12 0.598 0.640 1.229 1.161 1.140 0.912 1.001 1.215 1.087 1.049
3–12–13 0.602 0.695 1.238 1.123 1.100 0.890 1.023 1.236 1.120 1.147
3–12–14 0.625 0.764 1.140 1.151 1.144 1.270 1.168 1.528 0.885 1.216
3–10–12 0.629 0.737 1.165 1.144 1.157 1.359 0.872 1.124 0.924 1.165
3–5–12 ⫺2.61 0.755 1.130 1.131 1.141 1.225 0.916 1.129 1.190 1.113
Cprms
1–9–10 0.765 0.765 0.889 1.274 1.576 1.295 1.296 1.028 1.248 1.343
1–9–14 0.757 0.757 0.782 1.106 1.561 1.485 1.141 0.994 1.224 1.424
1–13–14 0.832 0.899 1.106 1.477 1.398 1.154 1.131 1.488 1.352 1.219
2–13–15 0.833 0.881 1.099 1.390 1.214 1.145 1.109 1.46 1.441 1.317
2–11–13 0.736 0.801 1.254 1.330 1.221 1.066 0.918 1.144 1.238 1.202
2–9–11 0.734 0.749 1.240 1.483 1.286 1.015 0.985 1.228 1.248 1.202
3–9–12 0.825 0.747 1.206 1.507 1.280 0.977 1.162 1.408 1.359 1.172
3–12–13 0.802 0.833 1.240 1.363 1.218 0.917 1.184 1.428 1.375 1.300
3–12–14 0.844 0.860 1.195 1.402 1.274 1.444 1.053 1.412 1.084 1.496
3–10–12 0.893 0.856 1.316 1.408 1.314 1.611 1.030 1.348 1.140 1.398
3–5–12 0.874 0.850 1.285 1.390 1.274 1.485 1.067 1.304 1.457 1.324
1588 S. Ahmad, K. Kumar / Engineering Structures 23 (2001) 1577–1589
Table 6 Table 9
Maximum interference factor for Cpq, all azimuths and 30° pitch roof Maximum interference factor for Cpmean, all azimuths and 30° pitch
(interference with three similar buildings) roof (interference with three similar buildings)
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Table 7
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