<p>Theoretical and experimental studies are conducted in the field of aeroelasticity. Specifically, two rectangular and one cropped delta wings with a hole are analyzed in this dissertation for their aeroelastic behavior.</p><p>The plate-like wings are modeled using the finite element method for the structural theory. Each wing is assumed to behave as a linearly elastic and isotropic, thin plate. These assumptions are those of small-deflection theory of bending which states that the plane sections initially normal to the midsurface remain plane and normal to that surface after bending. The wings are modeled in low speed flows according to potential flow theory. The potential flow is governed by the aerodynamic potential equation, a linear partial differential equation. The aerodynamic potential equation is solved using a distribution of doublets that relates pressure to downwash in the doublet lattice method. A hole in a wing-like structure is independently investigated theoretically and experimentally for its structural and aerodynamic behavior.</p><p>The aeroelastic model couples the structural and aerodynamic models using Lagrange's equations. The flutter boundary is predicted using the V-g method. Linear theoretical models are capable of predicting the critical flutter velocity and frequency as verified by wind tunnel tests. Along with flutter prediction, a brief survey on gust response and the addition of stores(missile or fuel tanks) are examined.</p> / Dissertation

abstract: Gnamma pit is an Australian aboriginal term for weathering pit. A mix of weathering and aeolian processes controls the formation of gnamma pits. There is a potential to utilize gnamma as an indicator of paleowind intensity because gnamma growth is promoted by the removal of particles from gnamma pits by wind, a process referred to as deflation. Wind tunnel tests determining the wind velocity threshold of deflation over a range of pit dimensions and particles sizes are conducted. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling utilizing the Re-Normalisation Group (RNG) K-Epsilon turbulence closure is used to investigate the distribution of wall shear stress and turbulent kinetic energy. An empirical equation is proposed to estimate shear stress as a function of the wind velocity and pit depth dimensions. With this equation and Shields Diagram, the wind velocity threshold for evacuating particles in the pit can be estimated by measuring the pit depth ratio and particle size. It is expected that the pit would continue to grow until this threshold is reached. The wind speed deflation threshold is smaller in the wind tunnel than predicted by the CFD and Shields diagram model. This discrepancy may be explained by the large turbulent kinetic energy in the gnamma pit as predicted by the CFD model as compared to the flat bed experiments used to define the Shields diagram. An empirical regression equation of the wind tunnel data is developed to estimate paleowind maximums. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Geography 2015

The coastal population is growing, putting extra stress on coastal sediments and protection features, such as beach dunes. Moreover, global warming will increase the frequency of storms, and coastal dunes and other defense infrastructure will be subjected to increased erosion and scouring, endangering the people they are meant to protect. Understanding soil dynamics and fluid interaction is crucial to predict the effects of sand erosion. In particular, the study of wind erosion of sands in coastal dunes is essential due to the protective role these earthen structures have during storm events. One of the challenges about predicting wind erosion in coastal dunes is its extended spatial scale and the associated economic and logistics costs of sampling and characterizing the sediments. Because of this, in-situ testing for sediment characterization is essential. In particular, the usage of free-fall penetrometers (FFP) is appealing due to their portability and robustness. The sediment properties obtained with this type of testing can later be used to assess wind erosion susceptibility by determining, for example, the wind velocity to initiate the erosion process. FFP testing involves dropping an instrumented probe that impacts the soil and measures the kinematics or kinetics during the penetration process. For example, deceleration measurements are used to compute an equivalent quasi-static failure, which is not in line with the dynamic process characteristic of FFP testing. This preassumed failure mechanism is used to back-calculate the sand's geomechanical properties. However, soil behavior is highly complex under rapid loading, and incorporating this behavior into FFP sediment characterization models is challenging. Advanced numerical modeling can improve the understanding of the physics behind FFP testing. This thesis presents various advancements in numerical modeling and erosion models to bridge FFP in-situ testing with predicting the initiation of wind erosion of sands. First, improvements oriented to the Material Point Method (MPM) for modeling in-situ FFP testing are proposed. The numerical results show that the simulation of FFP deployment in sands is affected by strain localization and highlight the importance of considering constitutive models sensitive to different loading rates. Because of the importance of rate effects in soil behavior, the second aspect of this thesis proposes a novel consistency framework. Two constitutive models are adapted to study strain-rate sensitive non-cohesive materials: i) a strain-softening Mohr-Coulomb, and ii) a NorSand model. In addition to increased strength, the proposed framework captures increased dilatation, an early peak deviatoric stress, and relaxation. Finally, a novel sand erosion model is derived using a continuum approximation and limit equilibrium analysis. The erosion law considers geotechnical parameters, the effects of slope, and moisture suction, in a combined manner. The proposed model is theoretically consistent with existing expressions in the literature. It covers a wide range of environmental and geometrical conditions and helps to reconcile the results from FFP testing with the prediction of the initiation of wind erosion. The model was validated in a wind tunnel and is demonstrated to be a viable alternative for predicting sand erosion initiation. This thesis opens up new research prospects, such as improving the soil characterization models or the direct prediction of sand erosion using rapid, reliable, and efficient in-situ testing methods. / Doctor of Philosophy / With global warming and climate change, it is expected that the frequency and intensity of storms will increase. This increment will put extra stress on coastal sediments such as beach sand and coastal dunes, making them prone to erosion. Coastal dunes lose their ability to withstand storms as they erode, potentially making coastal flooding more frequent. In light of this, all stakeholders involved in the protection against coastal disasters must have the tools to predict, prepare for, and mitigate for situations like the ones stated above. An essential aspect of the prediction component is dependent on a successful sediment characterization, for example, determining how much wind the sand can withstand before it erodes. Free-fall penetrometers (FFP) are devices designed to conduct the characterization mentioned above. However, the procedures used to perform this characterization are mainly based on empirical or semi-empirical expressions. Computer models, capable of simulating the physics behind FFP testing, can bring more insight into the process of interaction between FFP devices, sands, and water and can be the basis to improve the characterization methods. The latter results can be utilized for instance to predict wind erosion, including several properties of the sand, such as its mineralogy and shape. This study contributes to developing the computer simulations of FFP deployment and the wind erosion prediction models. Eventually, these developments can help engineers and coastal managers to anticipate and prepare for more frequent coastal hazards.

Les phénomènes d’interaction fluide-structure jouent un rôle important dans le calcul de tenue au séisme des assemblages combustibles. Afin de quantifier les marges de dimensionnement, le modèle de forces fluides utilisé doit être validé et affiné. Pour cela, des campagnes d’essais à l’échelle industrielle ont été réalisées en amont de la thèse. L’objectif ici est de contribuer à l’interprétation des essais industriels pour le cas stationnaire, et de valider les méthodes numériques permettant de simuler ce type d’écoulement. La problématique industrielle s'inscrit dans la tradition de l'étude des structures élancées sous écoulement axial. Le modèle de force fluide locale généralement utilisé, que nous appelons modèle de Taylor-Lighthill-Païdoussis (TLP), consiste en stationnaire à combiner un terme de force fluide potentielle, proportionnel à la courbure, et un terme de force fluide visqueuse, proportionnel à la pente. Des versions dynamiques de ce modèle ont été employées avec succès pour prédire le comportement vibratoire de cylindres flexibles en écoulement axial. Néanmoins, la littérature propose très peu de données de validation directe de cette représentation des forces fluides. Afin d’acquérir de telles données, pour le cas particulier d’un cylindre confiné dans un réseau de cylindres, un nouveau banc d’essai a été conçu et mis en place au laboratoire. Il s’agit d’un faisceau de 3x3 cylindres disposé dans une veine de soufflerie. Le cylindre central possède trois degrés de liberté : rotation, translation, flexion. Les efforts fluides résultants sont mesurés à l’aide d’une balance. Un modèle numérique similaire à la maquette est aussi réalisé et donne accès aux forces fluides locales. Les forces globales obtenues numériquement et expérimentalement sont comparables. Les forces locales obtenues dans les simulations numériques s’expliquent bien à l’aide du modèle TLP, en ignorant les effets de bord à l’entrée et à la sortie du faisceau. La transposition au cas industriel, de géométrie plus complexe, est réalisable par recalage des coefficients du modèle. / Fluid-structure interaction phenomena play a major role in the seismic design of fuel assemblies. In order to evaluate the design margins, the implemented model of fluid forces needs to be carefully assessed. Industrial-scale tests have been carried out with that purpose. Our goal is to contribute to their interpretation in the steady case, and to validate CFD methods usually applied to the type of flow at stake here. This fits in the tradition of the study of slender structures in axial flow. The local steady fluid forces decompose in a potential term, which is proportional to the curvature of the structure, and a viscous term, proportional to the angle of incidence. Adapted versions of this representation, which we call Taylor-Lighthill-Païdoussis (TLP) model, have proved successful in predicting the dynamic behaviour of flexible cylinders in axial flow. However, there is a lack in the literature of sound validation data for the fluid forces themselves. In order to gather such data, a new test rig has been designed and built. It consists in a 3x3 cylinder bundle confined in a wind tunnel. The central cylinder can be rotated, translated or bent. Resultant fluid forces are measured using a load cell. CFD calculations give access to the local fluid forces. CFD and experiments give similar results on the global fluid forces. The TLP model performs well at predicting the local fluid forces, except in the inlet and outlet regions. It can be fitted to the industrial case by adapting its coefficients.

Aerogeradores, ou turbinas eólicas, são máquinas instaladas em grandes parques eólicos que convertem a energia cinética do vento em energia elétrica. A definição da separação e da interação entre máquinas é um fator fundamental de análise durante a fase de projeto, pois os chamados efeitos de esteira podem inviabilizar o desenvolvimento de um parque eólico. Em geral, a esteira de um aerogerador está caracterizada por um significativo déficit de velocidade e uma intensificação dos níveis de turbulência, o que ocasiona a diminuição da eficiência aerodinâmica e a redução da vida útil das máquinas localizadas a sotavento. Embora existam diferentes pesquisas destinadas à compreensão e previsão dos efeitos de esteira, o problema permanece como uma questão desafiadora que exige a adoção de ferramentas de alta precisão para sua identificação. Este trabalho apresenta uma metodologia experimental em túnel de vento, para a caracterização e avaliação do campo de escoamento na esteira aerodinâmica de um modelo reduzido, sob diferentes condições de escoamento incidente. Especificamente, investiga-se a influência da turbulência atmosférica para quatro perfis de escoamento: i) uniforme-suave; ii) uniforme-turbulento; iii) lei potencial com expoente α = 0,11; iv) lei potencial com expoente α = 0,23. Todos os casos foram conduzidos sob condições de estratificação neutra, e foi utilizado anemômetro de fio-quente para efetivar as medições dos perfis de velocidade média e intensidade da turbulência, em diferentes posições da esteira. Os resultados mostraram diferenças substanciais no comportamento dos perfis de esteira, em função dos níveis de turbulência incidente. Particularmente, observou-se que o incremento da turbulência atmosférica reduz o déficit de velocidade e promove uma maior mistura turbulenta, o que acelera a dissipação dos efeitos de esteira. Assim, a metodologia experimental em túnel de vento evidencia-se como uma importante ferramenta de análise que possibilita amplo espectro para a investigação, precisão e confiabilidade de projetos eólicos. / Wind turbines are machines installed in large wind farms to convert the wind's kinetic energy into electrical power. For an optimal wind farm siting, it is necessary to take into account the interaction between wind turbine wakes. In general, wake effects are associated with velocity deficit and enhanced turbulence intensity. This may reduce the aerodynamic efficiency and lifetime of downwind turbines, making the project unfeasible. Several experimental and numerical studies have been conducted to unravel the behavior of wind turbine wakes under different inflow conditions. However, current wind farm siting tools are incapable of accurately predicting and assessing its effects. This document presents an experimental methodology in the wind tunnel to survey the influence of the atmospheric turbulence on the wake flow field of a wind turbine model. Specifically, four different flow conditions were investigated: i) uniform-laminar; ii) uniform-turbulent; iii) power law exponent α = 0.11; iv) power law exponent α = 0.23. All cases were developed under neutrally stratified conditions. Hot-wire anemometry was used to obtain high-resolution measurements of the mean velocity and turbulence intensity profiles at different downwind positions. Results show that different turbulence intensity levels of the incoming flow lead to substantial differences in the spatial distribution of the wakes. Particularly, higher ambient turbulence promotes a faster wake recovery and lower velocity deficit. In conclusion, the use of wind tunnel experiments is a trustworthy alternative that brings precision and reliability to wind projects.

Aerogeradores, ou turbinas eólicas, são máquinas instaladas em grandes parques eólicos que convertem a energia cinética do vento em energia elétrica. A definição da separação e da interação entre máquinas é um fator fundamental de análise durante a fase de projeto, pois os chamados efeitos de esteira podem inviabilizar o desenvolvimento de um parque eólico. Em geral, a esteira de um aerogerador está caracterizada por um significativo déficit de velocidade e uma intensificação dos níveis de turbulência, o que ocasiona a diminuição da eficiência aerodinâmica e a redução da vida útil das máquinas localizadas a sotavento. Embora existam diferentes pesquisas destinadas à compreensão e previsão dos efeitos de esteira, o problema permanece como uma questão desafiadora que exige a adoção de ferramentas de alta precisão para sua identificação. Este trabalho apresenta uma metodologia experimental em túnel de vento, para a caracterização e avaliação do campo de escoamento na esteira aerodinâmica de um modelo reduzido, sob diferentes condições de escoamento incidente. Especificamente, investiga-se a influência da turbulência atmosférica para quatro perfis de escoamento: i) uniforme-suave; ii) uniforme-turbulento; iii) lei potencial com expoente α = 0,11; iv) lei potencial com expoente α = 0,23. Todos os casos foram conduzidos sob condições de estratificação neutra, e foi utilizado anemômetro de fio-quente para efetivar as medições dos perfis de velocidade média e intensidade da turbulência, em diferentes posições da esteira. Os resultados mostraram diferenças substanciais no comportamento dos perfis de esteira, em função dos níveis de turbulência incidente. Particularmente, observou-se que o incremento da turbulência atmosférica reduz o déficit de velocidade e promove uma maior mistura turbulenta, o que acelera a dissipação dos efeitos de esteira. Assim, a metodologia experimental em túnel de vento evidencia-se como uma importante ferramenta de análise que possibilita amplo espectro para a investigação, precisão e confiabilidade de projetos eólicos. / Wind turbines are machines installed in large wind farms to convert the wind's kinetic energy into electrical power. For an optimal wind farm siting, it is necessary to take into account the interaction between wind turbine wakes. In general, wake effects are associated with velocity deficit and enhanced turbulence intensity. This may reduce the aerodynamic efficiency and lifetime of downwind turbines, making the project unfeasible. Several experimental and numerical studies have been conducted to unravel the behavior of wind turbine wakes under different inflow conditions. However, current wind farm siting tools are incapable of accurately predicting and assessing its effects. This document presents an experimental methodology in the wind tunnel to survey the influence of the atmospheric turbulence on the wake flow field of a wind turbine model. Specifically, four different flow conditions were investigated: i) uniform-laminar; ii) uniform-turbulent; iii) power law exponent α = 0.11; iv) power law exponent α = 0.23. All cases were developed under neutrally stratified conditions. Hot-wire anemometry was used to obtain high-resolution measurements of the mean velocity and turbulence intensity profiles at different downwind positions. Results show that different turbulence intensity levels of the incoming flow lead to substantial differences in the spatial distribution of the wakes. Particularly, higher ambient turbulence promotes a faster wake recovery and lower velocity deficit. In conclusion, the use of wind tunnel experiments is a trustworthy alternative that brings precision and reliability to wind projects.

Aerogeradores, ou turbinas eólicas, são máquinas instaladas em grandes parques eólicos que convertem a energia cinética do vento em energia elétrica. A definição da separação e da interação entre máquinas é um fator fundamental de análise durante a fase de projeto, pois os chamados efeitos de esteira podem inviabilizar o desenvolvimento de um parque eólico. Em geral, a esteira de um aerogerador está caracterizada por um significativo déficit de velocidade e uma intensificação dos níveis de turbulência, o que ocasiona a diminuição da eficiência aerodinâmica e a redução da vida útil das máquinas localizadas a sotavento. Embora existam diferentes pesquisas destinadas à compreensão e previsão dos efeitos de esteira, o problema permanece como uma questão desafiadora que exige a adoção de ferramentas de alta precisão para sua identificação. Este trabalho apresenta uma metodologia experimental em túnel de vento, para a caracterização e avaliação do campo de escoamento na esteira aerodinâmica de um modelo reduzido, sob diferentes condições de escoamento incidente. Especificamente, investiga-se a influência da turbulência atmosférica para quatro perfis de escoamento: i) uniforme-suave; ii) uniforme-turbulento; iii) lei potencial com expoente α = 0,11; iv) lei potencial com expoente α = 0,23. Todos os casos foram conduzidos sob condições de estratificação neutra, e foi utilizado anemômetro de fio-quente para efetivar as medições dos perfis de velocidade média e intensidade da turbulência, em diferentes posições da esteira. Os resultados mostraram diferenças substanciais no comportamento dos perfis de esteira, em função dos níveis de turbulência incidente. Particularmente, observou-se que o incremento da turbulência atmosférica reduz o déficit de velocidade e promove uma maior mistura turbulenta, o que acelera a dissipação dos efeitos de esteira. Assim, a metodologia experimental em túnel de vento evidencia-se como uma importante ferramenta de análise que possibilita amplo espectro para a investigação, precisão e confiabilidade de projetos eólicos. / Wind turbines are machines installed in large wind farms to convert the wind's kinetic energy into electrical power. For an optimal wind farm siting, it is necessary to take into account the interaction between wind turbine wakes. In general, wake effects are associated with velocity deficit and enhanced turbulence intensity. This may reduce the aerodynamic efficiency and lifetime of downwind turbines, making the project unfeasible. Several experimental and numerical studies have been conducted to unravel the behavior of wind turbine wakes under different inflow conditions. However, current wind farm siting tools are incapable of accurately predicting and assessing its effects. This document presents an experimental methodology in the wind tunnel to survey the influence of the atmospheric turbulence on the wake flow field of a wind turbine model. Specifically, four different flow conditions were investigated: i) uniform-laminar; ii) uniform-turbulent; iii) power law exponent α = 0.11; iv) power law exponent α = 0.23. All cases were developed under neutrally stratified conditions. Hot-wire anemometry was used to obtain high-resolution measurements of the mean velocity and turbulence intensity profiles at different downwind positions. Results show that different turbulence intensity levels of the incoming flow lead to substantial differences in the spatial distribution of the wakes. Particularly, higher ambient turbulence promotes a faster wake recovery and lower velocity deficit. In conclusion, the use of wind tunnel experiments is a trustworthy alternative that brings precision and reliability to wind projects.

This thesis describes a series of 1:75 scale wind tunnel experiments investigating the wind flow over, and through, three different forest models and the resultant wind loading on individual model trees. The experiments were designed to lead to a quantitative assessment of the wind stability of the particular forest arrangements and also to permit a study of the coherent gust structures in the flow. Forest canopy flow is dominated by a plane mixing layer flow regime with a shear layer close to the canopy top. It has been confirmed that data can be correlated usefully in terms of a shear length, Ls, related to the form of this shear layer. Frequency analysis has confirmed that the flow structures have the same frequency as the swaying of the tallest trees in each forest. A mechanism is proposed whereby upstream turbulence induces swaying of trees at and near the upwind edge region of the forest, which in turn perturbs the air in the unstable shear layer. This leads to a roll-up of the shear layer and the creation of coherent flow structures. Conditional sampling of the gust structures, using wavelet analysis, has also supported the theory of a plane mixing layer type flow. An eddy-pair structure was revealed, the arrangement of which accounts for the intermittent strong downward sweeps of air into the canopy that have been reported by many observers. The large downward sweep of air was also shown to be responsible for the highest bending moments experienced by individual trees. Assessments of the different forest formations showed that in a forest consisting of a 50/50 mix of 200 mm and 100 mm model trees, gusts did not penetrate the lower forest. This arrangement should improve the protection of younger trees and may be worth investigating in field trials.

Les décollements autour d’un corps en mouvement sont à l’origine de détériorations des performances aérodynamiques, de fatigues structurelles ou de nuisances sonores. La compréhension de ces phénomènes reste encore aujourd’hui l’un des enjeux majeurs de la recherche en aérodynamique. Le développement de systèmes permettant de contrôler l’écoulement et d’altérer ou de réduire les décollements apparaît comme une solution prometteuse en vue d’améliorer les performances aérodynamiques. On distingue les systèmes de contrôles passifs, simples d’utilisation mais incapables de s’adapter aux modifications de l’écoulement, des systèmes actifs qui disposent d’une grande adaptabilité mais nécessitent un apport extérieur d’énergie pour fonctionner. La stratégie du contrôle auto-adaptif s’apparente à un compromis entre ces deux méthodes. En s’inspirant de mécanismes présents dans la nature, elle permet d’associer amélioration des performances aérodynamiques, adaptabilité et autonomie. Ce travail de thèse porte sur l’étude expérimentale du contrôle du sillage turbulent d’un corps épais à l’aide d’actionneurs bio-inspirés avec un double objectif : i. déterminer les paramètres optimaux du dispositif de contrôle qui prend la forme d’un couple de volets flexibles, ii. Identifier les mécanismes physiques d’interactions entre l’actionnement et l’écoulement. Pour mener à bien cet objectif, de nombreux instruments de mesure complémentaires ont été mis en oeuvre. Une étude paramétrique a permis de démontrer l’efficacité du dispositif pour différentes configurations (fixes et auto-adaptatives) et d’identifier des configurations d’intérêt. La caractérisation de l’écoulement autour et dans le sillage du cylindre carré sans et avec contrôle a révélé un allongement de la longueur de recirculation à l’arrière du cylindre et la réduction de l’expansion du sillage. L’un des résultats majeurs de l’étude est que la réduction de traînée obtenue est principalement liée à une action du système sur l’anisotropie des fluctuations de l’écoulement et plus particulièrement sur l’entrainement du fluide dans le sillage de l’obstacle. / Flow separations around moving bodies lead to detrimental effects such as aerodynamic performances loss, structural fatigue and noises production. The understanding of these phenomena remains one of the most challenging issue of modern fluid dynamics. A promising solution to improve aerodynamic performances relies on the development of flow control devices able to prevent or mitigate the effects of separation. One can distinguish the passive flow control strategy, with easy to use devices but unable to adapt to the flow changes, from the active flow control strategy which benefits from a great adaptability but requires external power supply. Self-adaptive flow control appears to be a good compromise between those two strategies. Inspired from mechanisms at play in Nature, it combines good aerodynamic performances, self-adaptability and self-sustainability. This PhD thesis is dedicated to the experimental investigation of the turbulent flow over a bluff-body controlled by means of bio-inspired devices. The objective is two-folds : i. Design the control device which consists of a couple of compliant flaps, ii. Identify the physical mechanisms governing the interactions between the flow and the devices. A great number of complementary measurement techniques have been used in order to achieve these objectives. The efficiency of the devices for different configurations – locked and self-adaptive flaps - has been demonstrated through a parametric study. It has led to the identification of the main parameters involved in the control mechanism. The flow characterization around and in the wake of both uncontrolled and controlled cylinder revealed an increase in the length of the recirculation region and the reduction of the wake width. One of the major findings of this study is that the control essentially modifies the turbulent velocity field leading to a reduction of the lateral flow entrainment in the wake of the obstacle.

A estrutura do vento varia de acordo com as características do terreno e com a rugosidade da superfície terrestre, desacelerando proporcionalmente sua intensidade de acordo com a proximidade do solo, o que determina a constituição da camada limite atmosférica (C.L.A.). As características do escoamento sobre e no entorno de características topográficas obtusas tais como morros são de grande interesse em muitas aplicações, especialmente aquelas ligadas à engenharia de vento. Esta pesquisa foca a investigação da C.L.A. sobre terrenos complexos, analisando a estrutura do escoamento turbulento, a separação e a recomposição do mesmo. Para tanto, dois métodos são empregados e comparados na presente investigação para identificar a influência da orografia complexa sobre o escoamento do vento: padrões ou códigos de carga de vento e análises experimentais em túnel de vento. Nove modelos experimentais de morros isolados, sendo quatro simétricos bidimensionais, quatro simétricos tridimensionais e um assimétrico, todos com a consideração de dois tipos de terreno, categoria I – plano e categorias III-IV – medianamente rugosas são analisados. A partir de uma simulação experimental da camada limite em túnel de vento, é possível parametrizar os efeitos do vento sobre terrenos complexos (MILLER, 1995). A definição de variáveis, tais como: o perfil de velocidade do vento, a intensidade de turbulência, os efeitos topográficos na velocidade do vento constituem-se em elementos fundamentais para cálculos estruturais de edificações situadas no entorno. Foram desenvolvidas simulações experimentais no túnel de vento de camada limite Prof. Joaquim Blessmann, da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Na superfície do modelo assimétrico, na radial principal do mesmo, foram localizados nove perfis de medição, contendo cada um, vinte alturas de investigação. Os demais modelos tiveram como foco de análise o cume dos mesmos, também com perfis definidos nas mesmas alturas. As medições da velocidade do vento e da intensidade da turbulência foram procedidas por um sistema de anemometria de fio quente. Os dados obtidos em túnel de vento foram confrontados com expressões empíricas calculadas para os mesmos pontos segundo cinco códigos ou padrões de carga de vento, pontuando também as correlações entre os mesmos e entre estes com a norma brasileira NBR 6123 (1988). Os modelos, códigos ou padrões analisados foram: Jackson e Hunt (1975) e Davenport, Surry e Lemelin (1988), models e as normas a seguir nominadas:Norma Brasileira: cargas de vento em Edificações - NBR 6123 (1988); European Standard:Eurocode1: Basis of Design and Actions on Structures, CEN TC 250: 2002; Australian/New Zealand Standard: Minimum Design Loads on Structures, AS/NZS 1170.2: 2002; Architectural Institute of Japan AIJ: 2004; American Society of Civil Engineering Standard, ASCE 7-95 (ASCE 7-95), Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures;National Building Code of Canada, 2005, (NRCC 2005). Além do estudo comparativo acerca da resposta estimada pelos códigos nominados, esta pesquisa constitui-se em um banco de dados de medições em pontos localizados nos morros nominados, em túnel de vento. O comparativo entre os padrões mostra a inexistência de uma harmonização entre os mesmos para a consideração dos parâmetros a serem empregues para o cálculo de cargas de vento. Estas diferenças na definição dos parâmetros básicos para o carregamento de vento em estruturas determinam grandes dificuldades na unificação de formatos recomendados na previsão das cargas de vento. Comparativamente aos dados experimentais, os padrões, em geral, mostram-se conservadores para os dois tipos de morros analisados, simétrico e assimétrico, para os dois tipos de terreno, tanto considerando-se análises em 2D ou 3D. / The structure of the wind varies with the characteristics of the terrain and roughness land surface, slowing its intensity proportionally according to the surrounding terrain, which determines the onset of boundary layer (ABL). The characteristics of the flow over and around topographic features such as hills are of great interest in many applications, especially those related to wind engineering. From an experimental simulation of the boundary layer wind tunnel, it is possible to parameterize the effects of wind over complex terrain (MILLER, 1995). The definition of variables, such as the profile of wind speed, the turbulence intensity, the topographic effects on wind speed are key elements in structural calculations for buildings situated around the area. This research focuses on the investigation of the ABL complex terrain conditions, analyzing the structure of turbulent flow and characterization of separation and reattachment of the flow. Experimental simulations were developed in the wind tunnel of the atmospheric boundary layer Prof. Joaquim Blessmann, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in nine models of hills, four symmetrical two-dimensional, four- symmetrical threedimensional and one asymmetrical, all considering two types of terrain, category I - plan and Category III-IV- moderately rough. The surface of the asymmetric model was measured in nine profiles ploted on the main radial of the hill, with twenty heights each, and the other models were examined at top of the hill. The measurements were performed with a system of hot wire anemometry to measure the wind velocity and intensity of turbulence. The identification of the data obtained in the wind tunnel were confronted with empirical expressions for the same points, in order to establish the correlations between patterns and among these with NBR 6123 (1988). Two models and five codes of wind loads are analyzed: Jackson and Hunt (1975) and e Davenport, Surry e Lemelin (1988) Models and Brazilian Association of Technical Standards: Wind Load on Buildings, NBR 6123 (1988); European Standard: Eurocode1: Basis of Design and Actions on Structures, CEN TC 250: 2002; Australian/New Zealand Standard: Minimum Design Loads on Structures, AS/NZS 1170.2: 2002; Architectural Institute of Japan AIJ: 2004; American Society of Civil Engineering Standard, ASCE 7-95 (ASCE 7-95), Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures; National Building Code of Canada, 2005, (NRCC 2005) codes. This study focuses not only the comparison of the response estimated by international codes nominees, but also a data bank of wind tunnel data to validate this tool based on empirical expressions. The comparison of the patterns shows a lack of consideration for international harmonization of the parameters to be employed for the calculations of wind loads. These differences in defining the basic parameters for the wind loading on structures determines difficulties to unify the formats recommended in the prediction of wind loads. Compared to the experimental data, the patterns will generally show up conservative for both types of mounts analyzed, symmetrical and asymmetrical, for both types of terrain, both considering 2D or 3D.