Optimal design of structures using cyber-physical wind tunnel experiments with mechatronic models

Proof-of-concept was demonstrated for a low-rise structure with a parapet wall of variable height. Parapet walls alter the location of the roof corner vortices, reducing suction loads on the windward facing roof corners and edges and setting up an interesting optimal design problem. In the BLWT, the parapet height was adjusted using servo-motors to achieve a particular design. Experiments were conducted at the University of Florida Experimental Facility (UFEF) of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Natural Hazard Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) program.