WINDTECH Consultants is a company of consulting engineers specialising in the analysis of wind effects on buildings, structures and the environment. Since 1991, the company has been providing wind engineering and related high technology services for over 1000 major building projects, assisting planners and building design professionals. Since 1996, WINDTECH Consultants has also undertaken studies into solar effects and Environmentally Sustainable Development.
The trend to building taller, larger and lighter structures has highlighted the need for specialist services in providing accurate analyses of the effect of winds. This generally results in significant savings in the cost of the facade and the structure in comparison with the use of estimates from wind loading standards.
WINDTECH Consultants is one of the world’s leading Wind Engineering laboratories. Analysis techniques developed by WINDTECH Consultants over the past few years place the company at the forefront of its field in the analysis of the effect of wind on the most complex structures. This has been possible through WINDTECH Consultants’ policy of continual research and development and improvement.
OUR FACILITIES
Our laboratory features two latest state-of-the-art wind tunnel facilities and associated equipment:
- Wind tunnel No.1 has overall dimensions of 2.0m x 2.6m x 23m.
- Wind tunnel No.2 has overall dimensions of 2.0m x 3.0m x 23m.
- The test section of Windtech's wind tunnel No.1 features a blockage tolerant design.
- Windtech uses the latest technology with regards to multi-channel pressure measurement and digital filtering of the noise in the pressure signal to 500Hz.
- The upcrossing analysis technique is used for each of the pressure signals to provide a reliable statistical peak pressure.
- Windtech uses an advanced high-frequency force balance and aeroelastic rig designs to accurately determine the overturning moments on the tall building structures.
- Measurements of local wind speeds for Wind Environment Studies are obtained using hot-wire anemometry, which is the most reliable technique available, particularly in highly turbulent flows.
- Windtech consultants also have the facilities to test the performance of façade elements for quantities such as discharge coefficient, wind-noise generation, rain-noise and the integrity of the façade element for serviceability.
Figure: WINDTECH's boundary layer wind tunnel facility
OUR ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES 
Windtech applies world best practice in the analysis of wind tunnel data with regards to wind loading of façades and structures:
- Advanced solid state techniques are used in the analysis of wind loads on stadium and long-span roof structures.
- The modal analysis technique is used in the analysis of wind loads on tall buildings. This technique provides the most accurate approach to the analysis of wind tunnel data, particularly for complex structures or buildings having highly coupled modes of vibration between the two translational modes and the torsional mode.
- For tall buildings with operable facades, a risk analysis approach is carried out to account for the effect of the openings on the façade and internal pressures.
- Windtech has devised an advanced methodology for accurately determining the load distribution on linked tall buildings from wind tunnel data. This effectively overcomes any limitation due to complexity of the dynamic behaviour of the structure being investigated.
- If required, a frequency analysis can be undertaken for wind environment studies to determine the approximate number of days in the year where the wind speeds are expected to exceed certain levels.
FULL-SCALE / MODEL-SCALE COMPARISONS
In 1993 WINDTECH carried out a comparison between the results obtained using its pressure measurement system for an experimental building in Texas with full-scale results. The results have been reported in the recent International Wind Engineering Conference, in 1995 and show the closest agreement to date with full-scale results. These results are presented in our Full-Scale/Model-Scale Comparisons of Wind Pressures on the TTU Building (PDF, 630KB).
QUALITY ASSURANCE STATEMENT
WINDTECH Consultants Pty Ltd is a company committed to providing its clients with the highest quality service.
To achieve this goal, a Quality Assurance System has been in operation since 1995 but no accreditation has been sought. Our quality assurance system is modelled on the requirements of AS/NZS ISO 9001:2008. Also, as part of our quality assurance procedures, all cladding pressure and Structural loads studies are audited by a third party, as a standard procedure.
WINDTECH Consultants has a policy of continual education and research to ensure that it is constantly at the forefront of its field of expertise. Windtech Consultants has a policy of continual development. As a result, the company is able to offer world best practice standards and is at the forefront of its profession internationally. All wind tunnel testing will comply with procedures specified in the ASCE Manual and Report on Engineering Practice No.67, the ANSI 7-75: Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, the AS1170.2-2002 Wind Loading Standard and the Australasian Wind Engineering Society’s Quality Assurance Manual. |
