Flow and pressure field characteristics around pyramidal buildings

An experimental investigation of the flow and pressure characteristics around pyramidal buildings is presented. The experiments were conducted in a boundary layer wind tunnel. The velocities of the flow around the pyramids and the pressure distribution on the pyramid surfaces were measured using 2D laser Doppler anemometry (LDA) and standard pressure tapping technique, respectively. Eight different pyramids (model scale, 1:200) with varying base angles were investigated. The mean and fluctuating characteristics of the flow and pressure field around pyramids surfaces are described. The basic flow characteristics that distinguish pyramids from rectangular buildings are also discussed in this study. The influence of two parameters, base angle and wind direction, was investigated. The results show that base angle and wind direction characteristically influence the flow and pressure field around pyramids yielding differences in flow characteristics and in wind loads on the structure.