Wind pressures on a hemispherical dome: Fid-Bau Portal

Wind pressures on a hemispherical dome

Taylor, T.J.

Abstract A comprehensive study of the aerodynamic pressure distribution on hemispherical domes, in boundary layer flows, including the determination of the mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum and area average pressure coefficients. Pressures, referenced to freestream static pressure, were measured on $712 °$ increments for domes with height to diameter ratios of 1, $12 and 13$ , and Reynolds numbers between $1.1×10$ ⁵ and 3.1×10⁵, in two different turbulence intensity profiles. The 30 kW Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel at Monash University with a 1.23×0.92 m working section, was used for the experimental studies. A smooth hemispherical dome of diameter 300 mm and roughness $k/D$ of the order of 10⁻⁷ was used for the pressure measurements. Based on the results obtained and results of higher Reynolds number measurements on circular cylinders, the effects of Reynolds number and turbulence intesity on the mean, standard deviation, peak and area averaged pressures have been discussed, and the critical areas and pressures for design purposes defined.