Generalization of wind-induced interference effects for two buildings

Wind-induced interference effects on a building are the result of one or more adjacent buildings modifying the flow of wind around it, which may result in a significant increase or decrease in wind loads on the building. Wind loading standards and codes of practice offer little guidance to the designer for assessing the effects of interference. Experimental results on interference effects indicate that code recommendations may be significantly low (unsafe) or uneconomically conservative. The paper presents results of an extensive experimental program to study the wind flow mechanisms and to quantify the extent of wind load modifications on buildings due to interference effects. These results have been simplified and presented from the point-of-view of design and codification for the case of two buildings. Based on these results, general guidelines and limiting conditions defining wind interference are formulated and discussed.