Modeling of Wind Pressure Spectra on Spherical Domes

Abstract

Characteristics of wind pressure spectra on spherical domes have been investigated based on a series of wind tunnel experiments and a synthetic spectral model is derived for load estimation of cladding. First, wind pressure fluctuations on twelve dome models with various geometric parameters (rise/span and height/span ratios) are measured in a turbulent boundary layer. A discussion is detailedly made regarding the spectral distributions and patterns under different conditions. It is found though the pressure spectra vary with different tap locations and geometric parameters, similar spectral shapes and amplitudes can be observed. Then the statistics of pressure fluctuations are carefully checked and three typical spectra have been derived to represent the evolution of spectral pattern transforming from the windward to leeward region. Finally, a model of pressure spectra is proposed and utilized for generating local pressure fluctuations on spherical domes, which can be applied for the extreme and fatigue design of the structural roofs.