Field measurements of wind pressures near wall corners of low-rise buildings

As flow approaches a bluff body with sharp edges and comers the flow separates. This leads to large fluctuating pressures, which during high winds cause cladding failure. This thesis investigates field measurements of fluctuating point pressures near the wall comer of a low-rise building. In order to better understand the wind pressures near the comer eleven records of field data were collected and validated for the case where the angle of attack of wind flow is normal to the long wall. Each run has 15-minute duration and the pressure coefficients are calculated using the mean wind speed at 13 feet. The pressure coefficients measured in the field are then compared to wind tunnel data from Colorado State University. The field-measured pressures were also compared to ASCE7-02 external wall pressures