An extensive study of the local wind climate indicated that this region is dominated by synoptic winds at serviceability situations, while storms dominated the ultimate design loads.
A façade pressure study was undertaken for the 5-tower project in Abu Dhabi known as Capital Plaza. This was a detailed study involving the use of risk analysis to determine the effect of the openings in the façade on the internal pressures and ultimately the net facade and internal wall pressures.
Wind loading of linked tower buildings
A structural loads/ building motion study was also undertaken using a high-frequency force balance. This test enables an accurate and definitive determination of the wind loads on the structural frame and a set of equivalent-static load cases for the five towers. Three of these towers were structurally linked (refer to picture). Windtech Consultants used their rigorous approach in the analysis of the wind tunnel results that can cater for towers that have very complex structural behaviour, including linked tower buildings. This technique required tests to be carried out simultaneously for the three interlinked towers.
The methodology developed by Windtech Consultants for linked tower buildings is currently the most advanced in the world as it treats the background and resonant responses separately , as they should be. This is possible since the background response comes directly from the HFBB
measurements. This technique has been successfully used on this 200m tall project.
The study also provided an assessment of occupant comfort due to building motion against 5 different criteria.
A detailed facade and internal pressure study was carried out for the five tower buildings and podium. This included a risk analysis approach to the assessment of the internal pressures for the three linked apartment tower buildings.
An extensive wind environment study was also undertaken. The study required strategic planting at the street level, screens on the some of the roof terraces as well as innovative solutions to control the wind conditions on the podium. Podium treatments included the design of two gazebos, strategic planting and screens.
|
