Keywords: scaffold structures, wind loads, computational fluid dynamics, wind engineering, turbulence models, steel structures, non-linear analysis, access scaffolds.

The approach to solving the problems of wind engineering has traditionally relied on wind tunnel tests of scaled models or less frequently in full or large-scale facilities tests. However, the continuous development of hardware and software technology has allowed the evolution of computational wind engineering (CWE) based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD). CFD is increasingly being used in several industrial applications. The application of CWE has had a significant progress in the evaluation of wind loads on buildings [1]. The rapid growth of CWE applications [2] can be found in analyses of flow fields around a human body, velocity and pressure fields around a bluff body, pedestrian level wind around buildings, fluid-structure interactions, etc.

Scaffolds are temporary structures which are extensively used by workmen to stand on and to support permanent work during construction. It is common practice to cover scaffolds with plastic nets or sheets to prevent debris and tools from falling as well as to shield workers from the weather. Wind loads acting on scaffolds can be significantly increased because of this cladding. Some researchers [3] have considered wind loads with different magnitudes, which are usually taken from international design codes.

CFD analyses of wind loads on buildings have been mostly on permanent construction structures [4]. A CFD-based research conducted to determine wind loads on temporary structures has been reported by Irtaza et al. [5,6,7]. In the present paper, the results given in [7] are expanded by considering different orientations of the cuboid building in the range 0°-90°. The pressure coefficients on the outer and inner faces of the cladding and on the walls and roof of the building are determined. Wind tunnel testing data is compared to the computed results from different turbulence techniques. Conclusions are drawn on the use of these techniques in CWE and on the load effects of the wind direction on the scaffold structure and the enclosed building.

1

Y. Tominaga, A. Mochida, S. Murakami, S. Sawaki, "Comparison of various revised k-e models and LES applied to flow around a high-rise building model with 1:1:2 shape placed within the surface boundary layer", J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerod., 96, 389-411, 2008.

2

G. Bitsuamlak, E. Simiu, "CFD's potential applications: a wind engineering perspective", 5th International Symposium on Computational Wind Engineering (CWE 2010), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA, 23-27 May, 2010.

3

R.G. Beale, M.H.R Godley, "Numerical modelling of tube and fitting access scaffold systems", Advanced Steel Construction, 2, 199-223, 2006. doi:10.1016/B978-008044637-0/50204-3

4

S. Huang, Q.S. Li, S. Xu, "Numerical evaluation of wind effects on a tall steel building by CFD", J. Constructional Steel Research, 63, 612-627, 2007. doi:10.1016/j.jcsr.2006.06.033

5

H. Irtaza, R.G. Beale, M.H.R. Godley, "Determination of the effects of the wind load on bare tube access scaffold structures using computational fluid dynamics", Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures (ICASS 2007), Singapore, 637-642, 2007.

6

H. Irtaza, R.G. Beale, M.H.R. Godley, "Wind loads on netted metal access scaffolds", in Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures (ICASS 2009), Hong Kong, 2009.

7

H. Irtaza, R.G. Beale, M.H.R. Godley, "Experimental and Numerical Evaluation by Computational Fluid Dynamics of Wind Loads on Sheeted Scaffolds", in B.H.V. Topping, L.F. Costa Neves, R.C. Barros, (Editors), "Proceedings of the Twelfth International Conference on Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering Computing", Civil-Comp Press, Stirlingshire, UK, Paper 261, 2009. doi:10.4203/ccp.91.261

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