Wind Tunnel Testing Laboratory

Wind Tunnel Testing Laboratory

Ascertains the safety of structures against wind and analyzes the impact on the surrounding area

It is as important to consider wind load as seismic load in designing ultra-high-rise buildings and other large structures. The Wind Tunnel Testing Laboratory can replicate natural wind-related phenomena, confirm the safety of a structure against wind, and ascertain how building construction will affect wind conditions in the surrounding area. In recent years, demand has grown for higher precision in environmental assessments of large-scale urban development projects and in studies of the "heat island" phenomenon.
The Wind Tunnel Testing Laboratory was the first facility to incorporate the Partially Floating Structural System, which uses the buoyancy of water to achieve seismic isolation.This structure offers approximately 30% better seismic-isolation performance than ordinary seismic-isolation structures.

Types of Testing

Measurement of the following:

  • Wind load on large-scale structures (multi-channel simultaneous pressure measuring system)
  • Wind speed around buildings (multipoint wind speed measurements)
  • Snowdrifts and snow accumulation caused by snow falling around buildings (measurement of snow depth)
  • Wind noise from exterior materials, etc. (measurement of acoustic pressure)
  • Visualization of 2-dimensional wind speed around buildings (chronological PIV measurements)

Facility Features

Wind Tunnel Testing Equipment

  • Evaluation of wind load and wind environment for large-scale structures planned in urban areas

The photo shows an experimental wind tunnel model that replicates an area that is 1.8 kilometers in diameter. This model was used to measure the wind load on a planned building and the changes in wind speed surrounding the building.

 Wind tunnel testing equipment Wind environment and wind load testing
Wind tunnel testing equipment
Wind environment and wind load testing

Low-noise Wind Tunnel Apparatus

  • Evaluation of wind noise caused by hand rails and exterior materials buffeted by strong winds

Low-noise wind tunnel apparatus is used to measure wind noise from components and materials caused by strong winds. A high-pitched whistling noise like a flute sometimes arises, and it is hard to take corrective measures after a building is constructed, so it is necessary to conduct experiments in advance.

Low-noise wind tunnel testing apparatus Louver wind noise experiment
Low-noise wind tunnel testing apparatus
Louver wind noise experiment

Small Wind Tunnel Apparatus

  • Evaluation of structure behavior and wind load that takes wind vibration into consideration

Snowfall Wind Tunnel Apparatus

  • Imitation snow is used to evaluate snowdrifts and snow depth around buildings.

Examples of Tests and Achievements

  • Evaluation of the wind environment surrounding a building and proposal of windproofing measures
  • Evaluation of structure behavior and wind load on the structure during strong winds
  • Proposal of the optimal structure shape for wind-related concerns

Recommended content