Wind Testing, Wind Assessment And Facade Pressures Study Projects In Australia
Overview Of Wind Tunnel Testing & Wind Engineering Services Provided For Mirvac OTB Office and Treasury Hotel
Windtech Consultants have had the privilege of being a key consultant with respect to wind engineering services for a number of projects within the Perth CBD precinct. Past and/or ongoing projects include Mirvac OTB Office and Treasury Hotel, 18 The Esplanade, 580 Hay Street, Queens Riverside and the Burt Way Hotel and Residential Development.
For the Mirvac OTB Office and Treasury Hotel project, Windtech Consultants conducted Structural Loads and Building Motion Studies using the High Frequency Force Balance Technique. These tests enabled an accurate determination of wind loads on the structural frame and equivalent-static load cases on the tower.
The study also provided an assessment of occupant comfort due to building motion against three different sets of published criteria, and enabled identification of wake interference effects generated by existing high-rise buildings to the south-west of the site.
A Facade Cladding Pressure Study was undertaken to determine cladding design pressures for the facade engineer. In general, the wind tunnel results represented pressures lower than predicted by the code estimate while also considering pressure hot spots, enabling optimisation of the facade over the building envelope.
A Pedestrian Wind Environment Study was undertaken for existing conditions and with the inclusion of the subject tower development. This enabled identification of areas directly affected by the proposed development and optimal treatment solutions such as trees, shrubs and awnings.
Windtech investigated wind conditions for surrounding areas, including the Treasury Hotel. Wind entry conditions for the proposed redevelopment of the ground level of the hotel were undertaken to help ensure the main internal space was suitable for patrons.
Windtech also carried out dispersion modelling from selected exhaust locations on both the tower and Treasury Hotel, and carried out a wind-noise assessment on proposed external facade fin features.