Wind and climate influence our daily lives in more ways than we may be aware. From wind loading on buildings, to pollution dispersion in the atmosphere, climate influences our routines and shapes our fortunes in significant ways. GmE offers a broad range of services that address issues and problems related to the microclimate, including:
• Wind effects on pedestrians;
• Wind forces on structures;
• Field measurements and structural response;
• Dynamic wind effects on flexible structures.
Wind flow around buildings affects pedestrians using the facility as well as the building operations, including; access, door closures, and mechanical ventilation equipment.
Pedestrian Comfort
Pedestrian level wind studies are performed in a wind tunnel on a physical model of the study
buildings at a suitable scale. Instantaneous wind speed measurements are recorded at a model
height corresponding to 1.5 m full scale using either a hot wire anemometer or a pressure-based
transducer. Measurements are performed at any number of locations on the model and usually for
36 wind directions. For each wind direction, the roughness of the upwind terrain is matched in
the wind tunnel to generate the correct mean and turbulent wind profiles approaching the model.
At each receptor, data, including wind speed and direction would be synthesized to generate
pedestrian comfort on an annual and seasonal basis.
The general concept and approach to wind tunnel modelling is to provide building and topographic detail in the immediate vicinity of the study site on the surrounding model, and to rely on a length of wind tunnel upwind of the model to develop wind properties consistent with known turbulent intensity profiles representing the surrounding terrain.
Experience and research on people’s perception of mechanical wind effects has shown that if the wind speed levels are exceeded for more than 70% to 80% of the time, the activity level would be judged to be uncomfortable by most people. For instance, if a wind speed of 9 mph was exceeded for more than 70% of the time, most pedestrians would judge that location to be too windy for sitting or more sedentary activities. Similarly, if 19 mph at a location were exceeded for more than 80% of the time, walking or less vigorous activities would be considered uncomfortable.
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