EXPERIMENTAL-DETERMINATION OF WIND PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION FOR CYLINDRICAL AND SPHERICAL FLEXIBLE MEMBRANE STRUCTURES

Wind interaction with flexible structures, such as air-supported struc tures, is different from that of the standard rigid structures. Very f ew experimental studies are available in the literature with regards t o wind effects on such structures. This paper presents an experimental wind tunnel study on hemispherical and cylindrical models of varying ratios of height to base width. The results of the steady state pressu re distribution on flexible air-supported models are compared with tho se of the rigid models, which are generally known. Other varying param eters are also considered, such as wind velocity and direction, intern al support pressure, and the Reynolds number.