Investigation of the effects of wind veering and low-level jet on wind loads of super high-rise buildings by large eddy simulations

The phenomena of wind veering and supergeostrophic low-level jet caused by the Coriolis force are frequently observed in the atmospheric boundary layer, but their influences are hardly concerned in the conventional evaluations of wind loads on super high-rise buildings. Therefore, this paper investigates the effects of these two wind phenomena on the wind loads on square cross-sectional super high-rise buildings by large eddy simulations (LES). The reliability of the reproduced two wind phenomena and simulated numerical results are validated against an earlier field observation and wind tunnel test, respectively, showing a satisfactory agreement. The mean and fluctuating aerodynamic characteristics of a 1000 m high building under different wind scenarios are analysed and discussed in detail. The mechanisms are further explored by the proper orthogonal decomposition approach. Finally, the errors of base moments caused by the two wind phenomena for super high-rise buildings with different heights and wind incidence directions are quantified. The results show that the wind veering phenomenon can significantly affect the mean and fluctuating aerodynamic characteristics of super high-rise buildings, but the influence of the low-level jet caused by the Coriolis force is little. The objective of this study is to explore the effects of the two phenomena on the wind loads of super high-rise buildings to provide useful information for the safe wind-resistant design of skyscrapers. •Estimate wind loads of high-rise buildings considering the Coriolis force by large eddy simulations.•Investigate the influence of the Coriolis force induced wind veering and low-level jet on the wind loads.•Analyse the aerodynamic characteristics of high-rise buildings using proper orthogonal decomposition.•Provide valuable reference for the wind-resistant design of high-rise structures.