Using Digital Simulation to Evaluate Wind Effects on Coastal Buildings and Public Art
CRAFT is dedicated to exploring emerging technologies to help our collaborators push the boundaries of what is possible with their designs. From impossibly thin cantilevered canopies on oceanside residences to delicate public art pieces, achieving inspirational forms in high wind zones can be a challenge with traditional code-based methods. Physical wind tunnel studies are not feasible for small-scale projects, so CRAFT utilizes virtual wind tunnel models to more accurately understand the effects of wind on complex structures.
Wind speed and balcony comfort study for Caribbean hotel
(L) Wind speed study and (R) Pressure mapping study with topographic effects for an oceanside residence
Code-derived MWFRS wind loads determine an average pressure value distributed over multiple zones of a full structure, which is required for determining the total wind base shear, ensuring sufficient lateral force resisting elements, and designing foundations. Code-derived components and cladding wind loads determine localized peak pressures on specific building components, but require an onerous meander through the code cookbook. Virtual wind tunnel studies allow for rapid determination of peak pressures on atypical building components such as pergolas and canopies, and provide clear visualization of the wind behavior beneficial for both our engineering team and our collaborators. Site-specific effects due to topography and adjacent buildings are also easily considered.
Code-derived wind loads are well developed for building structures; however, the code does not include giant animal sculptures, branching tree structures, lightweight aluminum canopies, or other systems common in the public art realm. Basic demands for “other systems” can be used to determine the global demands on an art piece, but fail to capture the effects of wind shielding, vortex shedding, and localized pressure spikes that have significant impacts on delicate components that comprise a complex, full art structure.
Pressure mapping study for atypical geometry, multiple angles, public art sculpture
Wind speed study, public art sculpture
CRAFT is leveraging virtual wind tunnel studies to evaluate the unique behavior of wind flow on the atypical geometries of public art to ensure sufficient stiffness and strength for pressures above the code requirements on specific components not covered in wind code. Positive pressure spikes on individual tube members in a clustered system or on a protruding ear volume, as well as negative pressure spikes (suction) at the leeward and sides of atypical systems, can be evaluated directly on the structural analysis model. This allows each structural member to be designed for the precisely anticipated localized effects of wind not possible with traditional engineering approaches.
We strive to evolve our practice beyond traditional workflows to develop structures integral with the aesthetic, that are tuned to enhanced performance. By pushing our development in digital modeling and analysis, our team is better able to understand the behavior of our projects and support our clients with clearer, faster information than ever before.
(L) Wind speed study and (R) Pressure mapping study of umbrella uplift, public art sculpture