Wind Effects on Man-Made Structures in a World with a Changing Climate

Abstract

A number of epidemiologic studies reported correlations between ambient concentrations of air pollution and adverse health effects, such as respiratory and heart diseases, premature mortality, premature delivery and low birth weight. Apart from indirect effects of the wind on health, humans can experience 'mechanical' wind-induced injuries due to collapsing engineering structures, windborne debris, and wind-induced traffic accidents. In this study, basic features of the wind/structure interaction were briefly addressed and some effects of a changing climate on local wind characteristics were reported. Therefore, wind-tunnel simulations of the atmospheric boundary layer flow indicate the applicability of truncated vortex generators in reproducing the wind characteristics in the lower atmosphere. A loading of a vehicle exposed to cross-wind gusting gives evidence about the aerodynamics significantly different than on vehicles exposed to 'standard' atmospheric turbulence. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012.