Investigation of wind-induced dynamics of a cable net roof with aeroelastic wind tunnel tests

•Roof system dynamic characteristics identified with model-scale experiments and FEA.•Wind tunnels tests conducted to obtain wind loads on rigid body model.•Aeroelastic tests in wind tunnel on a flexible model to acquire roof displacements.•Added masses and aerodynamics damping estimates examined. This paper examines the results of experiments conducted in a boundary layer wind tunnel on rigid and flexible models of a tensile structure with a hyperbolic paraboloid roof. Pressure tests on the aerodynamic model were used to calculate a numerical finite element model that was used to design the aeroelastic model. The response of the aeroelastic model was then used to calibrate the numerical model. Dynamic identification of the aeroelastic model with and without wind is discussed in terms of natural frequencies and damping ratios. The focus of the experiments was the description of a continuous chain of measurements made of aerodynamic, numerical and aeroelastic models for a structure with several close natural frequencies. The random decrement technique was used to calculate aerodynamic damping of the flexible model. The results indicate that the wind load significantly modifies the natural frequencies of vibration and damping ratios of the structure when compared with the unloaded structure.