Wind-induced interference effect of complex building clusters on long-span roof structures

The presence of complex buildings introduces interference effects and complicates the wind field around the long-span roof structure. The complexity of the problem makes it challenging to predict wind load of long-span roof structures, resulting in a scarcity of design data available to engineers and designers. Thus, the influence of interference effect on mean and peak pressure coefficients of a long-span tri-centered cylindrical roof structure was investigated through wind tunnel tests conducted in an atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnel. The study focused on the interference effects caused by two cooling towers, chimney, and some low-rise buildings, considering all wind directions. The results show that the interference effects are the result of a combination of amplification effects from the adjacent cooling towers and chimney and shielding effects from the surrounding low-rise buildings. Due to the shielding effect of low-rise buildings, the wind suction on the roof is mitigated compared to that of a single building, while at the end of the roof, wind suction is amplified by cooling tower effects. The interference effect of the building clusters, however, amplifies the fluctuating wind pressure coefficient and the peak pressure coefficient on the roof. To accurately estimate the wind load of building components and envelopes, furthermore, this study investigates the influence mechanism of interference effect on non-Gaussian characteristics of wind pressure combining with fluctuating wind pressure spectrum, spatial correlation of fluctuating wind pressure, and probability distribution characteristics of standardized wind pressure coefficient. The spatial correlation of wind pressure in the roof interference area exhibits a strong association, and the probability density distribution characteristics of the standardized wind pressure coefficient significantly deviate from the Gaussian curve, with a peak factor exceeding 3.5. Thus, it can be concluded that the wind pressure within this region demonstrates significant non-Gaussian characteristics. Hence, the zone values of peak pressure coefficients are determined using the peak factor approach to inform the wind resistance design of the envelope structure.