Wind field simulation

An efficient algorithm to simulate turbulent, atmospheric or wind tunnel generated wind fields is devised. The method is based on a model of the spectral tensor for atmospheric surface-layer turbulence at high wind speeds and can simulate two- or three-dimensional fields of one, two or three components of the wind velocity fluctuations. The spectral tensor is compared with and adjusted to several spectral models commonly used in wind engineering. Compared to the Sandia method (see Veers, P. S., Three-dimensional wind simulation. Technical Report SAND88-0152, Sandia National Laboratories, 1988) the algorithm is more efficient, simpler to implement, and in some respects more physical. The simulation method is currently used for load calculations on wind turbines and bridges.