Study of wind action in buildings through the use of models: experiment in mini wind tunnel

• Grant number: 16/22868-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2017
• End date: May 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Architecture and Town Planning - Architecture and Urbanism Technology
• Principal Investigator: Cesar Fabiano Fioriti
• Grantee: Giovanna Pereira Rosseto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The first and most important decisions in designing a structural project, which is aimed at both the aesthetic as well as economic, are qualitative and intuitive values. In view of these aspects, this work has the general objective of the study, in a practical way, the forces due to wind on buildings. The design, construction and the influence of the use of a mini wind tunnel as a tool in the study of buildings required by wind dynamic action for this will be displayed. Thus, it will develop a low-cost mini wind tunnel and easy construction, based on the design Baals The Wind Tunnel, available on the NASA site (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) of the Government of the United States. The mini wind tunnel will be the main characteristics of open loop and closed test section. It will also be part of the equipment a smoke machine that will allow better visualization of the results. After its construction, five different tests will be performed in the mini wind tunnel, and the same will enable qualitatively demonstrate how the wind works in buildings. The test results obtained with the mini wind tunnel will be compared with the results obtained from simulations of the same in the software Flow Design, which will see if the wind action in the buildings studied in the mini wind tunnel is actually similar to the behavior of a building in a real situation. Thus, it is believed that the use of mini wind tunnel as a learning support tool is an efficient proposal, since the reduced models allow students develop through the experience of the tests, an intuitive sense of the behavior of appropriate forces the wind in buildings. (AU)