Fluid-Structure Interaction and Aeroelastic Balance on the Analysis of a Tall Building with Irregular Geometry

Aims: In this work the effect of wind on a building with irregular geometry is analyzed. Today, many cases of computational fluid-structure phenomena are validated with Benchmark models; nevertheless, the structure analyzed in this work does not have an associated benchmark model. Numerical algorithms applied in this work are also validated with a physical scale model under wind loads on a subsonic wind tunnel.

Study Design: Developed procedure involves two coupled field models corresponding to fluid and mechanical phenomenology, each one governed by different methodology: Fluid field associates an Eulerian Configuration, meanwhile solid model is described on Lagrangean configuration. These two models require a third model named ALE to interact each other; this last model is built on the interfaces between them. This work develops the numerical procedure as well experimental ones for solving these complex structures.

Place and Duration of Study: Graduate Engineering Lab. Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Mex., Civil Engineering Department. Universidad de Guanajuato, Mex., Design Lab. Construction, Torreon Cohauila, Mex., between September 2012 and July 2014.

Methodology: The numerical model was analyzed through the software ANSYS and also DINES + GiD while the experimental test was performed in a subsonic wind tunnel. The prototype consists of structural steel sections while walls are made of glass panels; physical model belongs to an elastic model where the effect of twisting is not included.

Results: Main results obtained in this work are the bending moment at the basement of the building, the displacement at the top of the structure and the non-uniform pressure distribution on the structural walls.

Conclusion: Dynamic fluid-structure interaction (IDFE) problems have attracted the attention of a large number of researchers. IDFE plays an important role in the structural engineering: on the analysis of high-rise buildings, large bridges, industrial plants, chimneys, transmission towers, etc., all these structures may collapse due to the aeroelastic instability caused by wind effect. The goal of this work is provide a methodology for real structures of complex geometry.