Acrosswind Response of Reinforced Concrete Chimneys

The acrosswind response of isolated reinfe~c~d concrete chimneys of circular cross-section is studied using wind tunnel tests, full-scale measureme,~ts and response predictions based on semi-empirical methods. Three chimneys with available full-scale response observations were selected for this study to compare their measured and predicted responses. The wind tunnel experiments involved measurements of unsteady aerodynamic loads on rigid models of circular cross-section and aeroelastic response of scale models of full-scale chimenys. Tests were conducted initially on smooth surface models, which were repeated with artificially roughened surface. Attachment of discrete two dimensional surface roughness helps to simulate artificially flow field features past a cylinder that represent the characteristics of high Reynolds number flows. Utilizing this roughness configuration permits response prediction of chimneys in boundary layer wind tunnels with a good agreement with the observed full-scale response.