Time domain buffeting response calculations of slender structures

For dynamic response predictions of slender civil engineering structures due to wind buffeting forces a time domain calculation procedure has been established by linking simulated wind velocity time series to a quasi-static loading model and a finite element program which is capable of handling non-linear material properties. The coherent time series are obtained from representative cross-spectra by fast Fourier transforms and Monte Carlo simulation. Time domain linear solutions have been compared to equivalent frequency domain results, and good agreement has been obtained. Some parametric studies have been performed with the aim of finding suitable guidelines in the choice of element discretisation, and an example of dynamic response in the presence of non-linear material properties has been included.