Design and analysis of the response of elastically supported wind-break panels of two different permeabilities under wind load

• Interaction of permeable and impermeable elastically supported panels with wind.
• Field measurements and numerical analysis results in agreement on panel response.
• Reduced wind pressure and stress resultants for all elastically supported panels.
• Similar airflow patterns for the fixed and the inclined permeable panel.
• Complex wake flow for the impermeable panel case. Further investigation needed.

The design and response of elastically supported short-length windbreak panels of different permeabilities under wind load is presented. The response of the panels was investigated through full-scale experiments and numerical simulation analysis. Two cladding materials were used: an impermeable film and a permeable net (62% porosity ratio). For the field experiments the elastic support of the panel was achieved by using extension springs which allowed it to pivot in response to wind loading through a hinge support at its base. The wind pressures developed on the panel for various equilibrium positions reached under different wind velocities were measured. The elastic support response resulted in a significant reduction of the wind pressures and the stress resultants on the windbreak for both cladding materials. A combined model coupling two-dimensional computational fluid dynamic simulation and non-linear structural analysis was used to analyse the behaviour of the elastically supported panel when interacting with the wind. The numerical results for the elastic support response under wind load, and the developed wind pressures, were found to agree with the full-scale experiments for both cladding cases. For the permeable cladding case, the wake flow of the elastically supported panel was shown to be free of large scale turbulent eddies when analysed by numerical simulations. The wake airflow for the impermeable panel case was found to be complex and extensive investigation is required.