Pressure and velocity fluctuations in the atomospheric boundary layer

M. Sterling,C.J. Baker,A. D. Quinn,R. P. Hoxey 한국풍공학회 2005 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.8 No.1

Pressure and velocity fluctuations in the atmospheric boundary layer

Sterling, M.,Baker, C.J.,Quinn, A.D.,Hoxey, R.P. Techno-Press 2005 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.8 No.1

This paper presents an analysis of wind velocity and pressure data obtained in a rural environment with a view to identifying the vortex structures present within the flow and examining the relationship between pressure and dynamic pressure. The data is analysed using both conventional analysis and conditional sampling. A method examining the eigenvalues of a matrix formed by the addition of the square of the strain tensor and the square of the vorticity tensor is also investigated. This method illustrates that there are a number of vortex structures present in the flow. The work presented in this paper suggests that the extreme events occur as a result of the superposition of two independent mechanisms.

An investigation of the wind statistics and extreme gust events at a rural site

Sterling, M.,Baker, C.J.,Richards, P.J.,Hoxey, R.P.,Quinn, A.D. Techno-Press 2006 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.9 No.3

This paper presents an analysis of wind velocity measurements obtained from four ultrasonic anemometers arranged in a vertical formation. The anemometers were located in a rural environment with a view to providing detailed information on the flow statistics of the lower part of the atmospheric boundary layer, particularly for the extreme wind events that are important in loading calculations. The data is analysed using both conventional analysis and conditional sampling. The latter is combined with wavelet analysis in order to provide a detailed analysis of the energy/frequency relationship of the extreme events. The work presented in this paper suggests that on average the extreme events occur as a result of the superposition of two independent mechanisms - large scale events that scale on the atmospheric boundary layer thickness and small scale events a few tens of metres in size.

Short term unsteady wind loading on a low-rise building

Sterling, M.,Baker, C.J.,Hoxey, R.P. Techno-Press 2003 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.6 No.5

This paper presents an extensive analysis of the short term, unsteady wind loading on a low-rise building. The building is located in a rural environment and only the specific situation of wind flow orthogonal to the long face of the structure is considered. The data is analysed using conventional analysis and less traditional methods such as conditional sampling and wavelet analysis. The nature of the flow field over the building is found to be highly unsteady and complex. Fluctuating pressures on the windward wall are shown to a large extent to be caused by the fluctuations in the upstream flow, whereas extreme pressures on the roof are as a result of high intensity small scale flow structures. On the roof of the building a significant amount of energy is shown to exist at frequencies above 1 Hz.

An investigation of the structure of ensemble averaged extreme wind events

Scarabino, A.,Sterling, M.,Richards, P.J.,Baker, C.J.,Hoxey, R.P. Techno-Press 2007 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.10 No.2

This paper examines the extreme gust profiles obtained by conditionally sampling full-scale velocity data obtained in the lower part of the atmospheric boundary layer. It is demonstrated that three different types of behaviour can be observed in the streamwise component of velocity. In all cases the corresponding vertical velocity component illustrates similar behaviour. An idealised horseshoe vortex model and a downburst model are investigated to examine if such structures can explain the behaviour observed. In addition, an empirical model is developed for an isolated gust corresponding to each of the three types of behaviour observed. It is possible that the division of the gust profile into three different types may lead to an improvement in the correlation of extreme gust events with respect to type.

The physical simulation of thunderstorm downbursts using an impinging jet

McConville, A.C.,Sterling, M.,Baker, C.J. Techno-Press 2009 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.12 No.2

This paper outlines the results of a physical simulation (at a 1:700 - 1:1000 geometric scale) of a thunderstorm downburst. Three different methods are examined in order to generate the time dependent nature of a downburst: directly controlling the fans and via two different types of opening apertures. Similarities are shown to exist between each method, although the results obtained from one approach are favoured since they appear to be independent of the downdraft velocity. Significant run-to-run variations between each experiment are discovered and in general it is found beneficial to interpret the results in terms of 10 run ensemble averages. An attempt to simulate a translating downburst is also undertaken and the results are shown to compare favourably with full-scale data.

Autorotation of square plates, with application to windborne debris

P. Martinez-Vazquez,M. Sterling,C.J. Baker,A.D. Quinn,P.J. Richards 한국풍공학회 2011 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.14 No.2

This paper presents the results of measurements relating to the aerodynamic forces on flat square plates which were allowed to rotate at different speeds about their horizontal axis, by modifying the velocity of the incoming flow. A 1 m square test-sheet and a 0.3 m square test-sheet were fitted with a number of pressure sensors in order to obtain information relating to the instantaneous pressure distribution acting on the test-sheet; a compact gyroscope to record the angular velocity during the rotational motion was also implemented. Previous work on autorotation has illustrated that the angular velocity varies with respect to the torque induced by the wind, the thickness and aspect ratio of the testsheet, any frictional effects present at the bearings, and the vorticity generated through the interaction between the plate and the wind flow. The current paper sets out a method based on the solution of the equation of motion of a rotating plate which enables the determination of angular velocities on autorotating elements to be predicted. This approach is then used in conjunction with the experimental data in order to evaluate the damping introduced by the frictional effects at the bearings during steady autorotation.

CFD modelling of free-flight and auto-rotation of plate type debris

Kakimpa, B.,Hargreaves, D.M.,Owen, J.S.,Martinez-Vazquez, P.,Baker, C.J.,Sterling, M.,Quinn, A.D. Techno-Press 2010 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.13 No.2

This paper describes the use of coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Rigid Body Dynamics (RBD) in modelling the aerodynamic behaviour of wind-borne plate type objects. Unsteady 2D and 3D Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) CFD models are used to simulate the unsteady and non-uniform flow field surrounding static, forced rotating, auto-rotating and free-flying plates. The auto-rotation phenomenon itself is strongly influenced by vortex shedding, and the realisable k-epsilon turbulence modelling approach is used, with a second order implicit time advancement scheme and equal or higher order advection schemes for the flow variables. Sequentially coupling the CFD code with a RBD solver allows a more detailed modelling of the Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) behaviour of the plate and how this influences plate motion. The results are compared against wind tunnel experiments on auto-rotating plates and an existing 3D analytical model.

Autorotation of square plates, with application to windborne debris

Martinez-Vazquez, P.,Sterling, M.,Baker, C.J.,Quinn, A.D.,Richards, P.J. Techno-Press 2011 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.14 No.2

This paper presents the results of measurements relating to the aerodynamic forces on flat square plates which were allowed to rotate at different speeds about their horizontal axis, by modifying the velocity of the incoming flow. A 1 m square test-sheet and a 0.3 m square test-sheet were fitted with a number of pressure sensors in order to obtain information relating to the instantaneous pressure distribution acting on the test-sheet; a compact gyroscope to record the angular velocity during the rotational motion was also implemented. Previous work on autorotation has illustrated that the angular velocity varies with respect to the torque induced by the wind, the thickness and aspect ratio of the test-sheet, any frictional effects present at the bearings, and the vorticity generated through the interaction between the plate and the wind flow. The current paper sets out a method based on the solution of the equation of motion of a rotating plate which enables the determination of angular velocities on autorotating elements to be predicted. This approach is then used in conjunction with the experimental data in order to evaluate the damping introduced by the frictional effects at the bearings during steady autorotation.

CFD modelling of free-flight and auto-rotation of plate type debris

B. Kakimpa,D.M. Hargreaves,J.S. Owen,P. Martinez-Vazquez,C.J. Baker,M. Sterling,A.D. Quinn 한국풍공학회 2010 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.13 No.2

This paper describes the use of coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Rigid Body Dynamics (RBD) in modelling the aerodynamic behaviour of wind-borne plate type objects. Unsteady 2D and 3D Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) CFD models are used to simulate the unsteady and non-uniform flow field surrounding static, forced rotating, auto-rotating and free-flying plates. The auto-rotation phenomenon itself is strongly influenced by vortex shedding, and the realisable k-epsilon turbulence modelling approach is used, with a second order implicit time advancement scheme and equal or higher order advection schemes for the flow variables. Sequentially coupling the CFD code with a RBD solver allows a more detailed modelling of the Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) behaviour of the plate and how this influences plate motion. The results are compared against wind tunnel experiments on auto-rotating plates and an existing 3D analytical model.