基于计算流体动力学方法的风荷载对高层钢建筑影响的数值评价

进行了风对联邦航空咨询委员会(CAARC)标准高层建筑影响的综合数值研究。采用计算流体动力学(CFD)技术,如大涡流模型(LES)、RANS方程模型等,用于预测风荷载的作用以及风在建筑物周围流动的规律。本研究的主要目的是探索有效可靠的方法来利用CFD技术评估风对高层建筑的影响。计算结果与大量的试验数据进行了比较(这些试验数据来自7个风洞试验),并对引起数值预测与试验数据误差的原因进行了识别和讨论。通过比较发现,采用LES和SGS模型可以得到满意的作用在高层建筑上的平均或脉动风载预测值;修正的RANS模型在大多数情况下可以得到较好的结果而且具有快速解决问题的优势。此外,表面有起伏的建筑物的空气边界层气流场的典型特征可以用数字表达。分析发现,入射风的速度分布主要影响建筑物的平均压力系数,而入射风的紊流强度分布对风力的变化有显著影响。因此,需要正确模拟入射风风速分布及紊流强度分布,采用CFD方法精确预测风对高层建筑的影响。CFD技术和相关的数字处理方法为设计者提供了一个有效的方法来估计风对高层建筑的影响,并满足详细的风洞试验的要求。     

Numerical studies on air flow around a cube

In this paper, air approach flow moving towards a cube will be studied using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The Reynolds Averaging of Navier-Stokes (RANS) equation types of k-ε turbulence model are used. Some RANS predicted results are compared with different upstream air speeds. Flow separation at the corner above the top of the cube, level of separation and reattachment are investigated. Reference is made to the experimental data on wind tunnels reported in the literature.A method similar to ‘recirculation bubble promoter’ is used for different approach flow speed distributions. Problems encountered in numerical simulations due to the sharp corner are discussed with a view to obtaining better prediction on recirculation flow in regions above the top of the cube. Correlations between the turbulent kinetic energy above the cube and the recirculation bubble size are derived for different distributions of approach flow speed.By limiting the longitudinal velocities in the first cell adjacent to the sharp edge of the cube or rib, and making good use of the wall functions at the intersection cells of the velocity components, positions of maximum turbulent kinetic energy and the flow separation and reattachment can be predicted by a standard k-ε model. The results agree with those obtained in the experiments.     

A hybrid RANS and kinematic simulation of wind load effects on full-scale tall buildings

Up till recent years, predicting wind loads on full-scale tall buildings using Large Eddy Simulation (LES) is still impractical due to a prohibitively large amount of meshes required, especially in the vicinity of the near-wall layers of the turbulent flow. A hybrid approach is proposed for solving pressure fluctuations of wind flows around tall buildings based on the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulation, which requires coarse meshes, and the mesh-free Kinematic Simulation (KS). While RANS is commonly used to provide mean flow characteristics of turbulent airflows, KS is able to generate an artificial fluctuating velocity field that satisfies both the flow continuity condition and the specific energy spectra of atmospheric turbulence. The kinetic energy is split along three orthogonal directions to account for anisotropic effects in atmospheric boundary layer. The periodic vortex shedding effects can partially be incorporated by the use of an energy density function peaked at a Strouhal wave number. The pressure fluctuations can then be obtained by solving the Poisson equation corresponding to the generated velocity fluctuation field by the KS. An example of the CAARC building demonstrates the efficiency of the synthesized approach and shows good agreements with the results of LES and wind tunnel measurements.     

Computer simulation of atmospheric flows over real forests for wind energy resource evaluation

The increased number of wind parks and the shortage of ideal sites have forced us to consider the possibility of installing wind farms in the vicinity of or within forests. Measured wind data at two potential wind farm sites, in Scotland and in France, were used for appraisal of a computer model of the wind flow over forested regions, where the trees are mimicked by momentum sinks. The results of the Scottish case were an improvement over previous computer simulations without the canopy model, and showed the difficulties of comparing detailed three-dimensional computer simulations with field data point measurements. In case of the French site, agreement was excellent between mean velocity field measurements at seven heights above the ground, between 40 and 100 m, and computer results. It was found that the presence of the canopy could increase the turbulence levels by almost two orders of magnitude, when compared to the results obtained without the canopy model.     

Performance of cable-stayed bridge pylons subjected to blast loading

Since the terrorist attacks of 2001, concern about potential car bomb attacks on buildings and infrastructure such as bridges and tunnels has increased tremendously. Design for better performance of these structures subjected to blast load is important to prevent progressive collapse of the structure and catastrophic loss of lives. The objective of this research was to study the performance of hollow steel box and concrete-filled composite pylons of a cable-stayed bridge subjected to blast loads. Car bomb detonation on the deck is assumed to be the most likely scenario to occur. A coupled numerical approach with combined Lagrangian and Eulerian models was used to consider the interaction of the deck and pylon with the air that transfers the explosion effect to the bridge. The non-linear explicit finite element analysis program, MD Nastran SOL700 was used to simulate the spatial and time variation of the blast load as well as blast shock wave-bridge interaction response. The blast resistance of two different types of pylons was investigated in a comparative study. The study established damage patterns of the pylon and showed superior performance of the concrete-filled composite pylon over the hollow steel box pylon. For the hollow steel box pylon, the P-Δ effect on the instability of the pylon subjected to blast load was significant.     

Elastic distortional buckling of continuously restrained I-section beam-columns

Doubly symmetric steel I-section members with thin webs and stocky flanges that have their tension flange restrained fully against translational and lateral rotational buckling deformations and elastically against twist rotation during buckling by the flexibility of a continuous restraint have been shown in previous studies to buckle in a so-called restrained distortional buckling (RDB) mode, involving distortion of the web of the I-section in the plane of its cross-section. These bifurcative buckling modes must necessarily occur in the negative moment region of composite T-beams and in half-through girder bridges. The present paper describes the elastic RDB analysis of a simply supported doubly symmetric I-section beam-column subjected to combined uniform axial force and moment gradient. The study adopts an energy method of analysis. The numerical solutions are used to develop a simple method of predicting the elastic RDB loads of beam-columns for use in design.     

Mesh modelling and analysis of cracked uni-planar tubular K-joints

In this paper, a new modeling method is proposed for a uni-planar tubular K-joint containing an arbitrary surface crack located along the chord weld toe. The crack is defined first in a 2-D plane and then mapped onto a 3-D curved crack surface. Subsequently, an automatic mesh generation is developed for producing the complete finite element mesh model. This technique can be realized by sub-dividing the entire structure into distinct zones. In each zone, the mesh is generated separately. After the mesh of all the zones have been completed, the complete model is obtained by merging the mesh of every zone. It has been proved to be efficient and effective in producing different quality mesh at different zones. In order to locate the likely crack initiation position, the hot spot stresses and hence the stress concentration factors (SCFs) need to be determined precisely. The hot spot stress correlated to the number of cycles, i.e. the S-N curve, has been used to predict the life of uncracked tubular K-joints. For a cracked tubular K-joint, its remaining service life depends on the fracture parameter called the stress intensity factors (SIFs). Two different methods, namely the displacement extrapolation and J-integral methods, are used to evaluate the SIFs along the crack front for different crack shapes in this study. Convergence tests for numerical analysis have been carried thoroughly to check the accuracy of the computed SIFs. The two sets of numerical results are in complete agreement. To evaluate the accuracy of numerical modeling, a full-scale fatigue test on tubular K-joint subjected to combined axial load and in-plane bending load was conducted. Comparison between the numerical and experimental results again shows a good agreement. Therefore, the proposed modelling and mesh generation methods demonstrate that the estimated stress intensity factors for any tubular K-joints are both accurate and reliable.     

CFD simulations of gas dispersion around high-rise building in non-isothermal boundary layer

Urban heat island phenomena and air pollution become serious problems in weak wind regions such as behind buildings and within street canyons, where buoyancy effect cannot be neglected. In order to apply CFD techniques for estimation of ventilation and thermal and pollutant dispersion in urban areas, it is important to assess the performance of turbulence models adopted to simulate these phenomena. As the first step of this study, we carried out wind tunnel experiments and CFD simulations of gas and thermal dispersion behind a high-rise building in an unstable non-isothermal turbulent flow. The standard k-ε model and a two-equation heat-transfer model as RANS models, and LES, were used for the CFD simulation. One of the important purposes of this study was to clarify the effect of inflow turbulence (both velocity and temperature) on flow field and gas/thermal dispersion for the LES calculation. Thus, LES calculations with/without inflow turbulence were conducted. The inflow turbulence was generated through a separate precursor simulation. The calculated results showed that both RANS models overestimated the size of the recirculation region behind the building and underestimated the lateral dispersion of the gas. Turbulent flow structures of LES with and without inflow turbulence were completely different. The LES result with inflow turbulence achieved better agreement with the experiment.     

Wind and structural modelling for an accurate fatigue life assessment of tubular structures

Based on the joint probability with regard to wind speed and its main direction, the current paper presents a practical and efficient approach for calculating wind induced fatigue of tubular structures, the effects of the wind direction, across wind and wind grid size on the high cycle fatigue of the structure are addressed. In each time step of the dynamic response calculation, the large deformation effects and the wind induced drag forces due to the updated structural deformations are taken into account. It is found that, the directional wind effects on the fatigue damage mainly depend on the orientation of the structure, the location and the support condition of the selected joints, and the relative probability of occurrence for the high winds speed in each direction, etc. Furthermore, the across wind components are proved to be a significant contributor on the fatigue damage and cannot be ignored. The fatigue damage is also found to be rather sensitive to the wind grid size for generating the wind fields. It is also concluded that vibration of each individual member interacts with the global dynamic response and the wind loading, and a fatigue check should therefore be against both individual member and global response. The wind fatigue calculation procedure presented in the current paper has the merit of reducing uncertainties without degrading a required safety level, this may lead to a positive economic impact with regard to construction and maintenance costs. It has been applied on quite a few industry and research projects and can be widely applied on the similar study of structures.     

Estimating fundamental periods of steel plate shear walls

Seismic design codes generally specify empirical formulae to estimate the fundamental vibration periods of buildings. Currently, most building codes provide the same empirical formula to estimate the fundamental periods for steel plate shear walls and reinforced concrete shear walls. The work presented in this paper shows that the code formula predicts periods that are generally shorter than the periods obtained from a validated finite element analysis of a series of steel plate shear walls of different geometries. An improved simple formula for estimating the fundamental period of steel plate shear walls is developed by regression analysis of the period data obtained from analysis. In addition, the effectiveness of a simple shear-flexure cantilever formulation for determining fundamental periods and P-Δ effects of steel plate shear wall systems is presented. The effects of perforations in the infill plates and column base support conditions on fundamental periods are also explored.     

Steel moment frames column loss analysis: The influence of time step size

This paper applies two well-known structural dynamics computational algorithms to the problem of disproportionate collapse of steel moment frames applying the alternate load path method. Any problem of structural dynamics strongly depends on the accuracy and the reliability of the analysis method since the parameters involved in the selection of the appropriate algorithm are affected by the nature of the problem. Disproportionate collapse is herein simulated via a time history analysis used to “turn off” the effectiveness of an element to the structure. For this kind of problem the time step size of the computational algorithm is of major importance for the accuracy of the method and thus, remains a variable throughout the present analyses. Two plane steel moment frames are used for the numerical examples, while all the analyses are performed independently. Firstly the β-Newmark method is applied and secondly the linear Hilbert-Hughes-Taylor a-method is applied and the respective results are compared and discussed in the last part of the paper.     

Large eddy simulation of wind effects on a long-span complex roof structure

This paper presents a combined study of numerical simulations and wind tunnel tests for the determinations of wind effects on a long-span complex roof of the Shenzhen New Railway Station Building. The main objective of this study is to present an effective approach for the estimations of wind effects on a complex roof by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. A new inflow turbulence generator called the discretizing and synthesizing random flow generation (DSRFG) approach was applied to simulate inflow boundary conditions of a turbulent flow field. A new one-equation dynamic subgrid scale (SGS) model was adopted for the large eddy simulations (LES) of wind effects on the station building. The wind-induced pressures on the roof and turbulent flow fields around the station building were thus calculated based upon the DSRFG approach and the new SGS model integrated with the FLUENT software. In parallel with the numerical investigation, simultaneous pressure measurements on the entire station building were made in a boundary layer wind tunnel to determine the mean, fluctuating, and peak pressure coefficient distributions. The numerically predicted results were found to be consistent with the wind tunnel test data. The comparative study demonstrated that the recommended inflow turbulence generation technique and the new SGS model as well as the associated numerical treatments are useful tools for structural engineers to assess wind effects on long-span complex roofs and irregularly shaped buildings at the design stage.     

Interference effects on wind loading of a row of closely spaced tall buildings

Interference effects on a row of square-plan tall buildings arranged in close proximity are investigated with wind tunnel experiments. Wind forces and moments on each building in the row are measured with the base balance under different wind incidence angles and different separation distances between buildings. As a result of sheltering, inner buildings inside the row are found to experience much reduced wind load components acting along direction of the row (x) at most wind angles, as compared to the isolated building situation. However, these load components may exhibit phenomena of upwind-acting force and even negative drag force. Increase in x-direction wind loads is observed on the upwind edge building when wind blows at an oblique angle to the row. Other interference effects on y-direction wind loads and torsion are described. Pressure measurements on building walls and numerical computation of wind flow are carried out at some flow cases to explore the interference mechanisms. At wind angle around 30° to the row, wind is visualized to flow through the narrow building gaps at high speeds, resulting in highly negative pressure on associated building walls. This negative pressure and the single-wake behavior of flow over the row of buildings provide explanations for the observed interference effects. Interference on fluctuating wind loads is also investigated. Across-wind load fluctuations are much smaller than the isolated building case with the disappearance of vortex shedding peak in the load spectra. Buildings in a row thus do not exhibit resonant across-wind response at reduced velocities around 10 as an isolated square-plan tall building.     

Cyclic response characteristics of retrofitted moment resisting connections

Experimental studies were conducted in order to investigate the behavior of the weld in steel moment resisting connections. A total of forty seven reduced-scale subassembly model specimens were tested that represent welded moment resisting connections of the beam to box column. These specimens were used to study the following aspects in fabrication and retrofitting of moment resisting connections: Complete joint penetration (CJP) groove weld behavior, transversely loaded fillet weld behavior, grinding and rewelding influence on weld behavior, reinforcing of connection with T-stiffener and rib plates, strain rate effect on weld and material characteristics and electrode toughness effect on weld behavior. Following test result interpretations, five full-scale moment resisting connections of beam to box column were fabricated and tested. These models included one specimen fabricated with details of an outdated connection, two specimens with an improved CJP groove weld detail, and two specimens retrofitted by T-stiffeners. Each specimen was subjected to a standard quasi-static cyclic load pattern. Overall, the improved and retrofitted specimens performed well, achieving total (elastic plus plastic) story drift ratios of at least 4% radians in magnitude before experiencing 20% strength degradation.     

Consistent boundary conditions for flows within the atmospheric boundary layer

In computational wind engineering the neutrally stable atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is often simulated using the standard k-ε model. The application of boundary conditions that are inconsistent with the profiles used at the inflow boundary causes streamwise gradients in the solution and prevents the simulation of a horizontally homogeneous boundary layer. In the present work these problems are overcome by applying a simple extension of the shear stress boundary condition at the top of the domain and by using one-dimensional models to generate inflow profiles in equilibrium with the ground boundary condition. This procedure allows the impact of the inconsistent boundary conditions to be quantitatively assessed. It is shown that inconsistent boundary conditions at the top of the domain result in erroneous streamwise gradients throughout the domain. These errors are reduced by enlarging the domain in the vertical direction but are not removed. The errors are also found in simulations with idealised and real topography included in the domain. A brief discussion of the impact of the errors on simulations of wind energy projects is given.     

FEM analysis of conventional and square bird-beak SHS joint subject to in-plane bending moment — experimental study

This paper presents the results of an experimental study of square hollow section joints subject to in-plane bending moment. A theoretical model of an X-type traditional joint and the same one with the chord rotated through 45^° about its longitudinal axis is considered. Models are analysed with the Finite Element Method and the results are compared with those obtained from the experimental study. The geometry, the material and the overall parameters concerned are in agreement with the general requirements of the EC3. A classification of joints due to their stiffness and M-φ diagram is examined according to the last CIDECT guide No. 9 and Part 1.8 of EC3. The results showed that EC3 underestimates the design resistance of the conventional joints about 50%-70% and joints with β→0.5 according to the rotational stiffness are classified almost as pinned while those with β→1.0 react as semi-rigid connections.Chord orientation showed that has a very important effect in joints with β<0.85 and increases their strength up to double when β→0.50. In this same area for ratio β, connections react as rigid while for β→1.0 they have strength almost equal to the conventional ones and behave as semi-rigid connections.     

Large-eddy simulation of wind effects on a super-tall building in urban environment conditions

A combined study of large-eddy simulation (LES), wind tunnel testing and full-scale measurement is conducted for the evaluation of wind effects on a super-tall building in a complex urban area. To validate the numerical simulations, the wind tunnel experiments including synchronous multi-pressure and high-frequency force balance model tests are conducted in a boundary layer wind tunnel laboratory. The numerical predictions are then compared with the experimental results, demonstrating that the LES can provide comparable predictions of the wind effects on the super-tall building. Furthermore, the cross-validation of the predicted displacement responses by the LES against the wind tunnel and full-scale measurements are presented and the agreement among them is reasonably good. The main objective of this study is to explore an effective numerical approach for the accurate estimation of wind effects on tall buildings in urban environment conditions and promote the practical use of the LES in the wind-resistant design of complex structures.     

Numerical simulation of dispersion around an isolated cubic building: Model evaluation of RANS and LES

Several studies have been carried out on CFD prediction based on a RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes equations) model for dispersion around buildings, but it was reported that a RANS computation often provides extremely high concentration, which are not observed in usual measurements. These results suggest that transient simulations such as the large-eddy simulation (LES) might be required to achieve more accurate results. Nevertheless, very few studies have evaluated the basic performance of LES in modeling the dispersion field for a simple configuration in comparison with the RANS model. Therefore, relative performance of these simulation methods for dispersion problem around buildings should be clarified in order to make it possible to choose a suitable numerical method for its purpose. The purpose of this study is to confirm the accuracy of LES in modeling plume dispersion near and around a simple building model and to clarify the mechanism for the discrepancy in relation to the RANS computation. Simple LES modeling gives better results than RNG modeling of the distribution of concentration, although the difference for mean velocity is not so large. The horizontal diffusion of concentration is well reproduced by LES. This tendency is closely related to the reproduction of unsteady periodic fluctuation around cubical forms in LES.     

Fatigue crack growth analysis of a square hollow section T-joint

Stress concentration sites are always found at the brace and chord intersection corners of any rectangular welded tubular joint. As a result, fatigue cracks are liable to be initiated and propagated from these corners. In this paper, the 3D fatigue crack growth under the weld toe of a square hollow section welded T-joint is simulated using boundary element method. In accordance with the 3D analyses, fatigue crack growth is predicted using a model based on the Paris’ law and stress intensity factors. Good agreement between the experimental and predicted crack growth and crack shape development is obtained. Based on this crack growth analysis, the fatigue life of a specimen is predicted and compared with the standard S-N curve for hollow section joints. It is found that the standard S-N curve is safe and slightly conservative.