Wind Engineering
Research focus
The Peer review has evaluated this group as Excellent
The Research Topic “Wind Engineering” has a long lasting tradition in “Dipartimento di Meccanica”, being developed since 1970 by Prof. Diana G. with focus on wind-induced dynamics of cables and suspension bridges. On that basis, with a continuous growth of different application fields, it experienced recently a great development due to the unique opportunities offered by the “Low-Turbulence & Boundary-Layer Wind-Tunnel” operating since 2001. The new Facility has been designed and realized with a fundamental role of “Dipartimento di Meccanica” and in particular of “Wind Engineering” group. This achievement allowed to spread greatly the experimental applications addressed (buildings and large structures, trains, vehicles, sails, as well as high Reynolds Number base research) and to develop new research topics. The Group is active on a wide part of the key disciplines internationally recognized part of the Wind Engineering, dealing also with several branches of Structure Dynamics, and Vibrations of Mechanical Systems, with a direct link to Vehicle System Dynamics and a specific branch making research on sailing yachts design. The research approach is original, being a strength point the contemporary availability of top class experimental facilities (one of the more performing Boundary-Layer Wind-Tunnel in the world), together with the availability of very strong tradition of structure dynamics numerical modelling. On those basis the research applications resulted in the development of very powerful numerical models allowing for predictive analysis of the wind-structure interaction problems, always supported by the experimental definition of the core parameters governing the numerical models. The reliability of predictive numerical simulations is finally thoroughly validated both by specific Wind-Tunnel procedures and by a strong tradition of full scale testing. The most significant example is the aerodynamic design of Messina Suspension Bridge, (the world record span), fully developed by “Wind Engineering” group. The predictive simulation of the bridge dynamics and stability due to turbulent wind relies on the development of innovative numerical 34 approaches. At the same time, the understanding and modelling of the wind-bridge fluid-dynamic interaction has been achieved through development of new experimental Wind-Tunnel techniques. The validation of the integrated numericalexperimental models had then a fundamental role in the Wind-Tunnel procedures, supported also by real structures full scale testing. The research originality and the innovative aerodynamic solutions have been internationally recognized both in terms of appreciation of the experimental and numerical modelling and in terms of adoption of similar design solutions in real structures (Stonecutters Bridge deck section, Hong Kong). The official technical specifications for Messina Bridge construction (concerning wind-bridge interaction), strongly rely on the research developed by the “Wind Engineering” group. In the field of cable dynamics-wind induced vibrations, a 30 years-lasting internationally recognized know-how has been developed (numerical and experimental). A widely used numerical method has been developed for defining cables aeolian vibrations (adopted by many manufacturers all over the world). The numerical models are based on a wide data base (several water-air experimental campaigns), allowing a deep understanding of cylinder-flow interaction. Several structures have been designed by the research team (Java-Bali, Gibraltar undersea crossing, Yang-Tze and Orinoco overhead crossing). The experience gained on conductors has been applied also to civil structures (London-Eye, new Wembley stadium, Braga stadium). Recently the new research area on High Rise Buildings and Large Flexible Roofs has been addressed. The strong Wind Engineering background and the very effective experimental-numerical resources allowed a very fast reaching of the state of the art expertise with several prestigious applications already developed. An other application field greatly advantaged by strong synergies between Wind- Tunnel experimental techniques and vehicles-dynamics numerical models concerns the wind-vehicles interaction. In case of High-Speed-Trains and lorries subjected to cross wind, the vehicle dynamic response is a critical safety-related problem. Recent definition of “Technical Specification for Interoperability” (TSI) covering the cross wind problem, required a thorough assessment of the safety associated with the rail & lateral wind-induced train dynamics. An innovative approach has been developed relying on Wind-Tunnel tests fully integrated with multi-body simulation models, accounting for cross wind space-time distribution (methodology being integrated into CEN/TC 256 International Rules on Railway Applications). Concerning the Sailing Yacht Design applications, the “Wind Engineering” group has been responsible for the sail design Wind-Tunnel tests of an America’s Cup Team, setting up specific facilities (twisted flow) allowing for positioning the research team, together with Auckland and Southampton groups, among the three most representative in the world. The “Wind Engineering” group expertise in Flow-Structure interaction field has been internationally recognized assigning to Milano the organization of BBAA VI 2008 Sixth International Colloquium on Bluff Bodies Aerodynamics and Applications.
Dipartimento di afferenza
Docenti afferenti
Full Professors
Stefano Bruni
Andrea Collina
Giorgio Diana
Ferruccio Resta
Associate Professors
Alessandra Manenti
Alberto Zasso
Assistant Professors
Marco Belloli
Daniele Rocchi
Gisella Tomasini