An experimental investigation of wind load on axisymmetrical shell structure houses

Abstract

<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">The purpose of this paper is to investigate the wind load on axisymmetrical shell structure houses. Twelve models of such houses are fabricated with aluminium. The models are of circular cylindrical wall and ellipsoidal, spherical and

<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">paraboloidal shell roofs with various height-to-span ratios. The models are tested in a wind tunnel at four different wind speeds (Reynolds numbers varying from 0.25 × 10^{<span style="mso-bidi-font-size:6.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">6</span>}<span style="mso-bidi-font-size:6.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""=""> <span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">to 0.32 × 10^{<span style="mso-bidi-font-size:6.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">6 </span>}<span style="mso-bidi-font-size:6.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">). <span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">The lift forces generated on the models are measured by a

<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Three component Aerodynamic Balance, Model No. B-1264 (made by the Plint and Partners Limited, England). The experimental results are plotted in terms of non-dimensional parameters and then physically interpreted. The results are reported with the available data in the literature. The findings of this investigation are expected to be useful in evolving an appropriate house building technology for the poor people who live in the cyclone-prone coastal area of Bangladesh.

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