Comparison of Reduced-Order Models to Analyze the Dynamics of a Tall Building under the Effects of Along-Wind Loading Variability

Abstract

Aeroelastic vibration, influenced by wind load effects, is relevant to the structural design of tall buildings. In the framework of performance-based design of wind load–sensitive structures, the effects induced by variability in the loading estimation, often relying on the results of a wind tunnel test, must be evaluated. This research is a continuation of a recent study by the author on the stochastic dynamics of tall buildings, contaminated by experimental errors, wind load uncertainty, and modeling simplifications. A number of reduced-order models are described and discussed. Among these models, a recently developed one that couples the along-wind dynamic response with intervention costs due to nonstructural damage on the external façade is considered. Even though the models assume a linear structural response dominated by the primary vibration modes and vortex shedding effects are not directly considered, they are sufficiently accurate for the purpose of evaluating, in a semianalytical form, the probability density function of the generalized dynamic response. The study examines the use of the reduced Fokker–Planck equation in high dimensions to derive the probability function of stationary wind response, depending on the mean wind speed and standard deviation of a parametric along-wind loading error term.