A Combined Computational and Codified Approach to Structural Wind Engineering

As part of the preliminary structural analysis process a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study of structural wind loading was undertaken for the Scunthorpe Central Park Sports Association development in Scunthorpe, UK. Through the analyses the engineering team was able to better understand the complex wind movements over the structure and identify critical areas necessitating more detailed consideration as the design developed.

These results were combined with wind load distributions for domed structures based upon wind tunnel tests, showing clear correlation with the standard models and expected variations at the interfaces between different domes, as well as highlighting potential peak suction regions which would not necessarily have been identified with standard tables of wind loading distributions for domes and barrel vaulted structures.