EFFECT OF BALCONIES ON VENTILATION INDUCING AEROMOTIVE FORCE ON LOW-RISE BUILDINGS

Data on mean wind pressure distribution on opposite walls of a five st orey building model with smooth surface and also will balconies mounte d thereon have been presented, and the effects of balconies on ventila tion inducing wind forces has been discussed. It is shown that provisi on of balconies alters wind pressure distribution on windward wall but does not introduce significant change in it on the leeward side. Vent ilative force across openings located centrally on opposite walls also remains almost unchanged due to the balconies. However, the ventilati ve forces across windows located at different levels is on the windwar d wall only, get diminished at all the floors near the upstream end fo r obliquely incident wind, and over the entire wall width at the inter mediate floors for the wind incidence at 90 degrees angle on the wall. Enhancement in the ventilation inducing wind Sol ces is caused nr the top floors on the downstream side for obliquely incident wind, and ne ar the ends of the wall at the ground and top floors for the wind impi nging at right angle on the wall. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All r ights reserved.