Wind Tunnel Testing Project At Stratford Cross, UK
Plots S1 and S11, Stratford Cross (formerly International Quarter) development is nestled in the heart of Stratford, combining the best of London’s culture, entertainment, shops and restaurants with beautiful homes and globally recognised workplaces, providing the neighbourhood with a new residential quarter. This mixed-use development features 683 apartments, retail amenities, and a collection of parks, canals, walks and world-class facilities, all connected via excellent transport links.
Windtech Consultants were appointed to undertake Wind Tunnel testing to assess the structural loads and façade cladding pressure. The wind tunnel testing was conducted using a 1:400 scale model of the development and our wind engineering experts employed cutting-edge techniques and equipment at our state-of-the-art wind tunnel testing facility. Measurements were taken from 36 wind directions at 10-degree increments, accounting for the effects of nearby buildings and land topography within a 500-meter radius.
Enlisting the High-Frequency Pressure Integration (HFPI) technique, A total of 288 pressure sensors were strategically placed across the tower’s external façade. Wind loads on the tower structure were derived from measured directional pressures, accounting for the façade area and height above the structure’s base.
The façade cladding pressure study was carried out using a 1:400 scale model of the development and due to its close proximity to other major proposed buildings, it was tested using both existing and proposed surroundings. The net design pressures for the façade were based on the worst case due to the tower being residential and therefore, the possibility that various windows and/or doors could be left open during the design wind event. As a result of the study being conducted, cost optimisation of the façade system has been achieved for the client.
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