FATIGUE DAMAGE EVALUATION OF BUILDING COMPONENTS AND CLADDING SUBJECTED TO CYCLIC WIND LOAD (PART 1): RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WIND FORCES AND FATIGUE DAMAGE OF VERTICAL FINS

Abstract

Generally, wind resistant designs of building components and cladding are developed using a static wind load based on the peak wind force coefficient. However, fluctuating wind forces repeatedly act on the components and cladding owing to the complex flow field formed around a building, and they may possibly lead to fatigue damage of the building. In this study, wind tunnel experiments were conducted on buildings with vertical fins to clarify the relationship between the wind forces and fatigue damage of the vertical fins; then, the fatigue damage was evaluated based on this relationship using the rain flow method.