Wind Design of Tall Buildings: The State of the Art

The construction of tall and slender buildings has seen recent growth in many cities around the world. Tall buildings are susceptible to dynamic excitation under wind effects which typically govern the structural design for strength, stability, and serviceability. This paper presents the state of the art in the analysis and design of tall buildings against wind effects. Structural design criteria are discussed in detail, with serviceability criteria relating to occupant comfort noted as being of particular importance. The latest in wind analysis tools and techniques is also presented. Wind tunnel testing remains the gold standard for determining wind loads on tall buildings, while the emerging use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is noted as being particularly useful for concept design stages. The paper aims to provide a valuable reference for engineers, architects, and designers involved in wind analysis and design of tall buildings.