A review of approaches to generate equivalent static and synthetic wind loads on tall buildings for the preliminary stage of design

• Published in: Journal of wind engineering and industrial aerodynamics 2021-12, Vol.219, p.104823, Article 104823
• Main Authors: Salehinejad, M. Mahdi, Flay, Richard George James
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Gust loading factor; Pre-concept design; Stochastic simulation; Synthetic wind loads; Tall buildings; Wind loads; Wind tunnel testing
• ISSN: 0167-6105; 1872-8197
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jweia.2021.104823

The extraordinary urbanisation of cities in recent decades urges us to consider the efficient design of tall buildings. Because of the increased flexibility of slender buildings, wind loads are expected to dominate the design loads. Although there are widely accepted wind tunnel techniques for obtaining wind loads on tall buildings, they are time-consuming and may be inconvenient in the pre-concept design process, when structural engineers would like fast and low-priced methods to predict the wind loads over the height of tall buildings. This paper mainly reviews the gust loading factor including other semi-empirical approaches and mathematical approaches for generating equivalent static and synthetic wind loads on tall buildings. Although stochastic simulations and time series analysis methods have limited use in generating wind loads on tall buildings, they are also briefly examined. Based on the findings of this review the paper concludes that it is definitely viable for synthetic wind approaches to be used to speed up the preliminary design process when large numbers of structural systems need to be assessed rapidly. •Reviewing different approaches for generating equivalent static and synthetic wind loads on tall buildings.•Reduce the cost and time in the preliminary stage of tall building design by avoiding recurring additional wind tunnel tests.•Details of gust loading factor including other semi-empirical and mathematical approaches.•Application of stochastic simulation and time series analysis approaches for generating wind loads on tall buildings.