Numerical Study on External Pressure Variation of Tall Buildings Due to Interfering Effects

The role of wind is pivotal in the planning and construction of tall buildings. As a building's height increases, the influence of wind becomes more pronounced, amplifying the significance of both stability and safety. One significant consequence that demands attention is the “interfering effect”. This effect, a phenomenon within wind engineering, arises when an interfering structure influences the wind load on a principal building. In the past, investigations into the external pressure variation of the principal building due to interfering effects focused on 2D or 3D simulations, often considering only a limited subset of parameters encompassing shape, height, and angle. Thus, the present study attempts to comprehensively examine the external pressure variation of the principal building due to interfering effects qualitatively and quantitatively. It accomplishes this by carefully analyzing the influence as it spreads from the interfering structure to a specifically chosen principal building, which has a square shape. It varies the height of the interfering building while adopting diverse shapes: square, circular, cross, and triangular, with varying orientations. The basis of this analysis rests upon 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling, facilitated by the Midas NFX commercial CFD software. In light of the outcomes deduced from pressure deviations, it becomes imperative to factor in a safety margin for interfering effects when designing the cladding of urban building structures. The results from pressure fluctuation analysis underscore the criticality of devising cladding system connections that can effectively withstand both compression and tension forces. In summary, for the windward face, the maximum deviation of 174.56% occurs when a circular shape is positioned at a 90-degree angle and a height of 175 m. Conversely, for the leeward face, the maximum deviation of -107.84% is observed when a triangular shape is placed at a 90-degree angle and a height of 175 m. The implications of this study's findings are far-reaching, particularly concerning the safety of building structures amid densely developed urban landscapes. As the urban landscape evolves, these insights will serve as a cornerstone for ensuring the enduring safety of high-rise structures.