Experimental study of wind induced suction on flat roofs.

Abstract

A 1:10 scale model building previously tested in the NRCC 9$m \times 9m$ wind tunnel was reproduced with a more exaggerated scale of 1:100 in a smaller wind tunnel and tested. Also tested was a half of the building cut along the line of symmetry and with various heights. The purpose of the testing was (1) to examine the repeatability of the roof pressure patterns with a more exaggerated scaling factors, and (2) to explore the feasibility of using a portion of the building for the testing of structural details against wind action. It was confirmed that the proposed simulation of only a half or even less portion of the building at various scaling factors can be a useful wind tunnel testing method which can reproduce the previously established full building test results as long as the parapet height ratio is kept constant and the wind tunnel blockage ratio is kept minimal.