INTERFERENCE EFFECTS ON AEROELASTIC TORSIONAL RESPONSE OF STRUCTURALLY ASYMMETRIC TALL BUILDINGS

Wind tunnel model tests were performed to investigate interference effects on torsional response of a tall square cross-section building with structural asymmetry (eccentricity between mass and elastic centres). The asymmetric building model was an aeroelastic model capable of pure torsional motion. Two sizes of square cross-section rigid interfering building models were individually located at positions upstream and downstream of the asymmetric principal model to provide interference effects. It was found that the mean and standard deviation torsional responses of the asymmetric principal building could be significantly enhanced due to the presence of the interfering building. Critical locations of the interfering building and the corresponding torsional responses of the principal building were dependent on the size of the interfering building and the eccentricity position of the principal building relative to wind incidence.