Façade scaffolding behaviour under wind action

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to estimate the mean horizontal wind action on a façade scaffolding on the basis of full-scale data. Measurements of climatic parameters were carried out for a number of façade scaffoldings (120 structures) located in Poland over a 30-month period. The measurement points were located on 2–3 deck levels of each structure and at 2–4 points placed in each level. The measurements were carried out 3–4 times during each day for 5 consecutive days. At each point, two components of wind speed were measured: first with the vane probe directed perpendicular to the façade and then parallel to the façade. Each measurement lasted 60 s, and the data were recorded every 1 s. On the basis of wind speeds, a procedure was suggested that enabled estimation of the static wind action on façade scaffoldings. The responses of structures to this action were computed via FEM simulations. The results were compared with those based on the approaches recommended by the wind and scaffolding codes. Initial analyses, illustrated by three scaffoldings without a protective cover, indicated large discrepancies between the approaches and the possibility of wind action, which is not considered in the codes.