Experimental study on the interference intensity produced by the presence of neighboring buildings in the wind action in a tall building

The average strain on a building due to the action of the wind, can be significantly altered when considering the presence of one or more neighboring buildings. Such changes can be considered through the use of coefficients that take into account the distance that the neighboring building is from the building being studied. The present work was developed in order to verify the values currently adopted by the Brazilian standard that regulates the wind action in buildings. With the use of a wind tunnel, several tests were carried out in a standardized building considering the presence of other buildings with similar dimensions close to it. The distances between the buildings, the quantity and the layout of the neighboring buildings were taken into consideration. It was possible to conclude that, in general, the presence of the neighboring buildings produced an increase on the strain. Interference, in many situations, increased strain above the rates suggested by the current Brazilian wind action standard.