Wind-Induced Interference Effects due to Partial Shielding of Building

The wind-induced interference effects on structural responses of two nearby buildings due to partial shielding are examined based on wind tunnel studies. The wind pressure coefficients at various nodes on the walls of two study models arranged in L-shaped layouts and in isolation are evaluated for a broad range of wind orientations. The mean structural responses of prototype unit-1 and unit-2 imperiled to mutual partial shielding are estimated by applying acquired wind forces based on wind tunnel pressure measurements and compared to the corresponding responses of comparable prototype in isolated state to evaluate the interference factors. The effects of wind orientations and dimensions of buildings in modifying the pressure coefficients and structural responses of both units arranged in L-layout are also estimated. The presence of upstream units L1-1 and L2-1 attenuates the along-wind responses of downstream units L1-2 and L2-2 by up to 24% and 21%, respectively, at a wind inclination angle of 0° compared to that of identical units in isolation. However, the presence of upstream units L1-1 and L2-1 amplifies the maximum mean torsion on units L1-2 and L2-2 by up to 30% and 35%, respectively, in comparison with the peak torque created on a similar unit in isolation. © 2023, The Institution of Engineers (India).