Interference effects of a neighboring building with various rotation angles on wind pressures of a high-rise building

Gaining a comprehensive insight into the characteristics of wind pressures on the building when interfered by neighboring structures is essential for the wind-resistant design. Interference effects of a neighboring building with four height ratios and three rotation angles on the wind pressures of a high-rise building in different configurations were investigated using wind tunnel experiments. The interference effects were revealed in the contours of the interference factors (IF) on two side elevations. This research investigated the beneficial region where the IF reduced to a minimum value of 0.57 due to the shielding effect in tandem arrangements and the amplification region where the IF increased to a maximum value of 1.24 caused by the channeling effect in oblique arrangements. The statistical characteristics of interference effects were revealed by the probability distribution functions (PDF) results at the leading edge of the windward façade. The PDF results indicate the most apparent bimodal probability distribution (BPD) feature with peak at Cp = 0.4 and the other at Cp = −0.3. The BPD-feature dissipates as the relative position moves away and the height ratio decreases. The wind-over-top (WOT) flow primarily causes a shift in the sign of the mean wind pressure coefficient by up to 89.9 % and a minimum value of negative mean wind pressure coefficient of −0.61 on the windward façade of the principal building. Finally, the arch-type vortex, composed of the WOT flow and the vortex shedding, resulted in a maximum value of the fluctuating wind pressure coefficient of 0.63. •The wind pressures on the high-rise building influenced by a neighboring building with different height ratios and rotation angles are investigated.•The spatial distributions of surface wind pressures are analyzed to reveal the presence of wind-over-top flow and arch-type vortex.•The wind-over-top flow and arch-type vortex is quantified in terms of the variations of the wind pressure coefficients.