Wind Induced Lateral‐Torsional Motion of Buildings

Abstract

Fluctuating wind forces on tall buildings can cause excessive building motion that may be disturbing to the occupants. A method to relate dynamic alongwind, acrosswind, and torsional forces acting on square isolated buildings to building accelerations is developed using random vibration theory. Wind tunnel test data are analyzed to determine the spectra of force components and correlations among the different components of force. The effects on building vibration of statistical correlations among components of force and mechanical coupling of components of motion introduced by eccentricities of the centers of mass and rigidity from the building centroid are examined. Comparison are made with more common building analyses, where the forces are assumed to be statistically uncorrelated and the components of motion are assumed to be uncoupled.