Wind loads on solar blinds: A case study
conference paper
An investigation is presented to determine the wind loads on external solar blinds on two 60 m high
towers. This investigation was performed some years after the construction of the towers, with the sun
blinds in place. A combination of wind tunnel tests and full scale measurements was done.
The shape of the towers, and the unique design of the solar blinds, make that this design is not
covered in any wind loading code. However, during the design stage, a simplified approach was
adopted to construct the solar blinds and its load bearing structure. During operation of the building,
damage occurred to some of the hangers of the structure and doubts were raised whether the wind
loads on the external blinds were properly estimated. The results of the current investigation are
being used for a re-analysis of the structure, and may lead to replacement of parts of the structure.
towers. This investigation was performed some years after the construction of the towers, with the sun
blinds in place. A combination of wind tunnel tests and full scale measurements was done.
The shape of the towers, and the unique design of the solar blinds, make that this design is not
covered in any wind loading code. However, during the design stage, a simplified approach was
adopted to construct the solar blinds and its load bearing structure. During operation of the building,
damage occurred to some of the hangers of the structure and doubts were raised whether the wind
loads on the external blinds were properly estimated. The results of the current investigation are
being used for a re-analysis of the structure, and may lead to replacement of parts of the structure.
TNO Identifier
776902
Source title
Seventh European and African Conference on Wind Engineering (EACWE2017) Liege, Belgium, July 4-7, 2017
Pages
1-9
Files
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