Analysis of structures subjected to random wind loading by simulation in the frequency domain

The closely related methods of transfer matrices and direct numerical integration have been extensively used in the analysis of free standing structures. In case of structures subjected to dynamic loading, the method is particularly suitable to analysis in the frequency domain, enabling the consideration of arbitrary linear time-dependent material behaviour without additional difficulties. In this paper, a method is proposed to simulate stationary random processes in the frequency domain and it is applied for analysis of structures under along-wind action. The method requires less computational effort than standard procedures to obtain the power spectral density function of response quantities of interest and, since the solutions are obtained by simulation, may be extended to include in the formulation some types of non-linearity. Furthermore, it can be advantageously employed in the dynamic analysis of thin-walled open section beams, for which other alternatives are rarely available. The method proposed is applied to various free-standing towers and chimneys, for which response measurements are available, allowing a direct comparison of theoretical and experimental results.