• Wind and Structures
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.289-302
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• 2023

Insulating glass units (IGUs) have been widely used in buildings in recent years due to their superior thermal insulation performance. However, because of the panel reciprocating motion and fatigue deterioration of sealants under long-term wind loads, many IGUs have the problem of early failure of watertight properties in real usage. This study aimed to propose a statistical method for wind-induced deflection of IGU panels during the whole life service period, for further precise analysis of the accumulated fatigue damage at the sealed part of the edge bond. By the estimation of the wind occurrence regularity based on wind pressure return period, the events of each wind speed interval during the whole life were obtained for the IGUs at 50m height in Beijing, which are in good agreement with the measured data. Also, the wind-induced deflection analysis method of IGUs based on the formula of airspace coefficient was proposed and verified as an improvement of the original stiffness distribution method with the average relative error compared to the test being about 3% or less. Combining the two methods above, the deformation of the outer and inner panes under wind loads during 30 years was precisely calculated, and the deflection and stress state at selected locations were obtained finally. The results show that the compression displacement at the secondary sealant under the maximum wind pressure is close to 0.3mm (strain 2.5%), and the IGUs are in tens of thousands of times the low amplitude tensile-compression cycle and several times to dozens of times the relatively high amplitude tensile-compression cycle environment. The approach proposed in this paper provides a basis for subsequent studies on the durability of IGUs and the wind-resistant behaviors of curtain wall structures.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.419-444
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• 2014

Within this paper a new approach for early damage detection in rotor blades of wind energy converters is presented, which is shown to have a more sensitive reaction to damage than eigenfrequency-based methods. The new approach is based on the extension of Gasch's proportionality method, according to which maximum oscillation velocity and maximum stress are proportional by a factor, which describes the dynamic behavior of the structure. A change in the proportionality factor can be used as damage indicator. In addition, a novel deflection sensor was developed, which was specifically designed for use in wind turbine rotor blades. This deflection sensor was used during the experimental tests conducted for the measurement of the blade deflection. The method was applied on numerical models for different damage cases and damage extents. Additionally, the method and the sensing concept were applied on a real 50.8 m blade during a fatigue test in the edgewise direction. During the test, a damage of 1.5 m length was induced on the upper trailing edge bondline. Both the initial damage and the increase of its length were successfully detected by the decrease of the proportionality factor. This decrease coincided significantly with the decrease of the factor calculated from the numerical analyses.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.5 no.2_3_4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2002

The along-wind response of a surface-mounted elastic fence under the action of wind was investigated numerically. In the computations, two sets of equations, one for the simulation of the unsteady turbulent flow and the other for the calculation of the dynamic motion of the fence, were solved alternatively. The resulting time-series tip response of the fence as well as the flow fields were analyzed to examine the dynamic behaviors of the two. Results show that the flow is unsteady and is dominated by two frequencies: one relates to the shear layer vortices and the other one is subject to vortex shedding. The resulting unsteady wind load causes the fence to vibrate. The tip deflection of the fence is periodic and is symmetric to an equilibrium position, corresponding to the average load. Although the along-wind aerodynamic effect is not significant, the fluctuating quantities of the tip deflection, velocity and acceleration are enhanced as the fundamental frequency of the fence is near the vortex or shedding frequency of the flow due to the occurrence of resonance. In addition, when the fence is relatively soft, higher mode response can be excited, leading to significant increases of the variations of the tip velocity and acceleration.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.133-147
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• 2023

The random vibration of saddle membrane structures under wind load is studied theoretically and experimentally. First, the nonlinear random vibration differential equations of saddle membrane structures under wind loads are established based on von Karman's large deflection theory, thin shell theory and potential flow theory. The probabilistic density function (PDF) and its corresponding statistical parameters of the displacement response of membrane structure are obtained by using the diffusion process theory and the Fokker Planck Kolmogorov equation method (FPK) to solve the equation. Furthermore, a wind tunnel test is carried out to obtain the displacement time history data of the test model under wind load, and the statistical characteristics of the displacement time history of the prototype model are obtained by similarity theory and probability statistics method. Finally, the rationality of the theoretical model is verified by comparing the experimental model with the theoretical model. The results show that the theoretical model agrees with the experimental model, and the random vibration response can be effectively reduced by increasing the initial pretension force and the rise-span ratio within a certain range. The research methods can provide a theoretical reference for the random vibration of the membrane structure, and also be the foundation of structural reliability of membrane structure based on wind-induced response.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 2004

The present study aims at the reliability analysis of steel towers against the limit state of deflection. For this purpose tip deflection of the tower has been obtained after carrying out the dynamic analysis of the tower using modal method. This tip deflection is employed for subsequent reliability analysis. A limit state function based on serviceability criterion of deflection is derived in terms of random variables. A complete procedure of reliability computation is then presented. To study the influence of various random variables on tower reliability, sensitivity analysis has been carried out. Design points, important for probabilistic design of towers, are also located on the failure surface. Some parametric studies have also been included to obtain the results of academic and field interest.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.357-368
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• 2018

For a long cable-stayed bridge, stay cables are its most important load-carrying components. In this paper, long-term monitoring of super-long stay cables of Sutong Bridge is introduced. A comprehensive data analysis procedure is presented, in which time domain and frequency domain based analyses are carried out. In time domain, the vibration data of several long stay cables are firstly analyzed and the standard deviation of the acceleration of stay cables, and its variation with time are obtained, as well as the relationship between in-plane vibration and out-plane vibration. Meanwhile, some vibrations such as wind and rain induced vibration are detected. Through frequency domain analysis, the basic frequencies of the stay cables are identified. Furthermore, the axial forces and their statistical parameters are acquired. To investigate the vibration deflection, an FFT-based decomposition method is used to get the modal deflection. In the end, the relationship between the vibration amplitude of stay cables and the wind speed is investigated based on correlation analysis. Through the adopted procedure, some structural parameters of the stay cables have been derived, which can be used for evaluating the component performance and corresponding management of stay cables.