Effect of Natural Wind on the Transiting Test for Measuring the Aerodynamic Coefficients of Structures

Abstract

The aerodynamic coefficients transiting test is a new method for measuring the structural aerodynamic coefficients using the wind generated by a moving vehicle. However, the effect and correction of natural wind on the transiting test has not been studied. Hence, in this study, the investigation of the aerodynamic force and pressure measurements on a special triangular prism model is simulated through the transiting test under different natural wind conditions for 30° and 90° angles of wind incidence. Force and pressure measurement results in the transiting test are used to describe and explain the effect of natural wind in the range of 0–3.0 m/s on the aerodynamic coefficients of the symmetric triangular prism qualitatively and quantitatively. The results show that the driving wind field of the vehicle, aerodynamic force coefficient, and aerodynamic pressure coefficient are significantly influenced by strong natural wind greater than 1.71 m/s, which must be considered and so it is recommended that the structure aerodynamic coefficients transiting test should be conducted under the condition that the natural wind is less than 1.71 m/s. In addition, the method of two-direction round-trip measurement is proposed to modify the effect of natural wind on transiting tests.