Numerical and analytical simulation of downburst wind loads

Researchers and designers currently have a number of methods for numerically simulating either the non-turbulent or turbulent characteristics of downbursts. Examples of non-turbulent downburst winds simulated using a commercially available Computational Fluid Dynamics software package are discussed, as well as a simple analytical model. The significance of the translational velocity of the storm, and the variation in intensity as the event matures and decays is discussed. An ARMA method of adding turbulence to the non-turbulent wind speed is proposed. The various aspects of the model are then integrated to create a method suitable for generating wind speed time histories for the dynamic analysis of lattice structures subjected to downburst winds. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.