Acrosswind aerodynamic damping of isolated square-shaped buildings

Aeroelastic model tests were performed to study the acrosswind response and aerodynamic damping of isolated square-shaped high-rise buildings. The experimental measurements were compared with response predictions based upon wind loads obtained from stationary pressure model. Results indicate that urban terrain flow field is aerodynamically stable for the square-shaped buildings. In open terrain, the acrosswind responses can be categorized into three regions based on a building’s mass-damping coefficient, MD: (1) region of aerodynamical stable, MD⩾6.28, (2) region of aerodynamical unstable, 2.76⩽MD⩽5.82, (3) region of aerodynamical divergence, MD⩽2.18. Empirical models for aerodynamic damping are presented. When the aerodynamic damping is incorporated with lift force spectra, the calculated acrosswind responses show good agreement with measurements.