Comparison of wind loads on rectangular net house with numerical simulation and wind tunnel tests

This study clarified the adaptability of numerical experiments using a canopy model while estimating wind load on net houses. A salient characteristic of the model is its capability to reduce the computational load. Net houses, which are used widely in subtropical regions of Japan, have effective wind resistance because nets allow some air permeability, in contrast to greenhouses covered with film. However, the wind loads imparted to net houses cannot be incorporated into design accurately because the wind forces on the net houses have not been refined. This experiment examined wind loads of rectangular net houses through numerical experiment and wind tunnel tests to improve the wind-resistant design of net houses. Solidity ratios of the nets using wind tunnel test were 29, 34 and 38%. The net mesh sizes were 0.4, 0.6 and 1.0 mm, respectively. When there is a normal wind direction to the plane of a net house, the wind force coefficients for the windward side were approximately 0.5 for 29 and 34%, and 0.6 for 38% (solidity ratios). Numerical experiments can calculate the equivalent wind load which was confirmed by wind tunnel testing.