Aerodynamic Mitigation of Wind Uplift on Low-Rise Building Roof Using Large-Scale Testing

During strong wind events such as hurricanes and thunderstorms, building roofs are subjected to high wind uplift forces (suctions), which often lead to severe roofing component damage and possibly, water intrusion. It is therefore crucial to accurately estimate peak suctions (negative pressures) on...

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Main Authors: Ziad Azzi, Filmon Habte, Amal Elawady, Arindam Gan Chowdhury, Mohammadtaghi Moravej
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Built Environment
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbuil.2019.00149/full
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author Ziad Azzi
Filmon Habte
Amal Elawady
Amal Elawady
Arindam Gan Chowdhury
Arindam Gan Chowdhury
Mohammadtaghi Moravej
author_facet Ziad Azzi
Filmon Habte
Amal Elawady
Amal Elawady
Arindam Gan Chowdhury
Arindam Gan Chowdhury
Mohammadtaghi Moravej
author_sort Ziad Azzi
collection DOAJ
description During strong wind events such as hurricanes and thunderstorms, building roofs are subjected to high wind uplift forces (suctions), which often lead to severe roofing component damage and possibly, water intrusion. It is therefore crucial to accurately estimate peak suctions (negative pressures) on roofs for design purposes and to develop mitigation devices to reduce wind uplift and possible damage. Past research suggests that mitigation devices, in various forms and configurations, can significantly reduce wind effects on buildings' roofs. Perforated parapets have been shown by many researchers to be one of the most effective and low-cost mitigation devices for reducing roof suction. However, such devices contain perforations of critical functionality that may be Reynolds number Re dependent. Therefore, it is essential to study their functionality and possible Re dependency in wind tunnel testing. This paper focuses on investigation of Reynolds number Re similitude aspects of porous devices and large-scale model testing of discontinuous porous parapets to estimate their roof uplift reduction efficacy that would be representative of the prototype (full-scale) conditions. Large scale (1:8) experiments were implemented at the 12-Fan Wall of Wind Experimental Facility (WOW) at Florida International University (FIU) to achieve adequate local Reynolds number Re to ensure realistic results. In this study, a relatively smaller ratio of parapet height to roof height has been considered as compared to previous studies. The paper delineates the step-by-step design of the parapets based on kinematic similitude requirements cited in the literature. The goal was to achieve a discontinuous porous parapet design that provides similar uplift reduction efficacy as compared to those reported in the literature, but with lower height and smaller length to ensure cost-effectiveness, ease of installation, and architectural aesthetics of the retrofitted building. The effects of perforated parapets on both individual tap and area-averaged pressure coefficients were explored. The results indicated a maximum of 45% reduction in individual tap peak pressure coefficients at the corner roof and a 40% reduction in area-averaged peak pressure coefficients. The study showed that low-height ratio perforated parapets could be as effective as those reported in the literature with higher height ratios.
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spelling doaj.art-ecc7f3b256084eeb84149165a64a3f8d2022-12-22T00:33:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Built Environment2297-33622020-01-01510.3389/fbuil.2019.00149472316Aerodynamic Mitigation of Wind Uplift on Low-Rise Building Roof Using Large-Scale TestingZiad Azzi0Filmon Habte1Amal Elawady2Amal Elawady3Arindam Gan Chowdhury4Arindam Gan Chowdhury5Mohammadtaghi Moravej6Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United StatesKaren Clark & Company, Boston, MA, United StatesDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United StatesExtreme Events Institute of International Hurricane Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United StatesDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United StatesExtreme Events Institute of International Hurricane Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United StatesExtreme Events Institute of International Hurricane Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United StatesDuring strong wind events such as hurricanes and thunderstorms, building roofs are subjected to high wind uplift forces (suctions), which often lead to severe roofing component damage and possibly, water intrusion. It is therefore crucial to accurately estimate peak suctions (negative pressures) on roofs for design purposes and to develop mitigation devices to reduce wind uplift and possible damage. Past research suggests that mitigation devices, in various forms and configurations, can significantly reduce wind effects on buildings' roofs. Perforated parapets have been shown by many researchers to be one of the most effective and low-cost mitigation devices for reducing roof suction. However, such devices contain perforations of critical functionality that may be Reynolds number Re dependent. Therefore, it is essential to study their functionality and possible Re dependency in wind tunnel testing. This paper focuses on investigation of Reynolds number Re similitude aspects of porous devices and large-scale model testing of discontinuous porous parapets to estimate their roof uplift reduction efficacy that would be representative of the prototype (full-scale) conditions. Large scale (1:8) experiments were implemented at the 12-Fan Wall of Wind Experimental Facility (WOW) at Florida International University (FIU) to achieve adequate local Reynolds number Re to ensure realistic results. In this study, a relatively smaller ratio of parapet height to roof height has been considered as compared to previous studies. The paper delineates the step-by-step design of the parapets based on kinematic similitude requirements cited in the literature. The goal was to achieve a discontinuous porous parapet design that provides similar uplift reduction efficacy as compared to those reported in the literature, but with lower height and smaller length to ensure cost-effectiveness, ease of installation, and architectural aesthetics of the retrofitted building. The effects of perforated parapets on both individual tap and area-averaged pressure coefficients were explored. The results indicated a maximum of 45% reduction in individual tap peak pressure coefficients at the corner roof and a 40% reduction in area-averaged peak pressure coefficients. The study showed that low-height ratio perforated parapets could be as effective as those reported in the literature with higher height ratios.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbuil.2019.00149/fulllow-rise buildingroof uplift mitigationpartial turbulence simulationperforated parapetsreynolds numberwall of wind
spellingShingle Ziad Azzi
Filmon Habte
Amal Elawady
Amal Elawady
Arindam Gan Chowdhury
Arindam Gan Chowdhury
Mohammadtaghi Moravej
Aerodynamic Mitigation of Wind Uplift on Low-Rise Building Roof Using Large-Scale Testing
Frontiers in Built Environment
low-rise building
roof uplift mitigation
partial turbulence simulation
perforated parapets
reynolds number
wall of wind
title Aerodynamic Mitigation of Wind Uplift on Low-Rise Building Roof Using Large-Scale Testing
title_full Aerodynamic Mitigation of Wind Uplift on Low-Rise Building Roof Using Large-Scale Testing
title_fullStr Aerodynamic Mitigation of Wind Uplift on Low-Rise Building Roof Using Large-Scale Testing
title_full_unstemmed Aerodynamic Mitigation of Wind Uplift on Low-Rise Building Roof Using Large-Scale Testing
title_short Aerodynamic Mitigation of Wind Uplift on Low-Rise Building Roof Using Large-Scale Testing
title_sort aerodynamic mitigation of wind uplift on low rise building roof using large scale testing
topic low-rise building
roof uplift mitigation
partial turbulence simulation
perforated parapets
reynolds number
wall of wind
url https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbuil.2019.00149/full
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