Wind tunnel test on low-rise buildings influenced by spacing between hillside and building in typical mountain terrain

The wind pressure distribution on scaled model of low-rise building in three typical mountain terrain of coastal areas was studied with pressure measurement wind tunnel tests. At the same time, they were compared with the wind pressure distribution of low-rise building in isolated condition. The study mainly focused on the variation of average pressure coefficient and shape coefficient with the change of spacing between the hillside and building under wind attack of 0°, then the trends of average wind pressure coefficients of low-rise building under wind attack of 0°~90° were analyzed. It is found that when the mountain is behind low-rise building, the values of wind pressure on windward, leeward, flank and roof are positive. As the distance increases, the positive value of wind pressure on windward decreases and then increases gradually. The positive value of wind pressure on flank and leeward decreases generally and the pressure on leeward, flank and roof changes to negative, whose absolute value increases generally. In isolated condition, the pressure changes obviously, the pressure on windward continues to increase and the pressure on leeward, flank and roof changes to negative. From the aspects of shape coefficients, the influence on leeward affected by hillside is the most obvious, and the influence on windward is small. Some part, such as windward eave, left edge of left side, right edge of right side, midline of windward, leeward, should be paid more attention in the design for their absolute values of the mean pressure coefficients. With respect to relatively high partial wind pressure, partial wind pressure coefficient can be introduced in design to avoid partial damage to low-rise building. At different wind angle, the mean wind pressure under the conditions of being affected by slope is significantly different from that under isolated condition. When the wind angle is 0°, the negative peak value (-1.15) of mean wind pressure coefficient is observed on windward eave under the isolated condition. The wind load producing the most negative effect shall be taken into account in the calculation when designing low-rise building. ©, 2015, Science Press. All right reserved.