Session 15 : A Q&A Session with Tony Rofail from Windtech on Wind Tunnel Testing of Tall Buildings

The webinar will start with the regulatory framework: when is it mandatory in India to use a wind tunnel study to determine the design loads on a tall building? Also, when is it economically beneficial to do so.

There are a number of wind tunnel testing methods to determine the loads on tall building structures. Each method has its particular advantage and limitation. This presentation will shed some light on which method is most suited to which type of tall building structure.

This Webinar will also elaborate on some of the more advanced analysis techniques used for the study of the response of tall buildings that exhibit complex modal behaviour or have a complex form such as rigid connections at high elevation and their effect on the transfer of wind loads between the sub-structures.

The effect of different methods of accounting for the directionality of the local wind climate will also be discussed.

The presentation will include some basic tips on how the building form can be optimised to significantly reduce the dynamic response of a tall building.

This live webinar cover the following learning objectives:

1. When is it mandatory and when is it recommended to undertake a wind tunnel study for tall buildings?

2. The various testing techniques available and which type should be used for what type of tall building structure.

3. How small changes to the building form can bring about significant reduction to the overall loads on a tall building structure.

Speaker : TONY ROFAIL – DIRECTOR, PRINCIPAL
Windtech: https://windtechconsult.com
Qualifications and Professional Memberships
• M.Eng (University of Sydney), B.E. B.Sc. C.P.Eng, NPER
• Corporate Member, Engineers Australia (MIEAust)
• Registered International Professional Engineer, IntPE(Aus)
• Member, Australasian Wind Engineering Society (AWES)

Appointments
• A key member of the Standards Australia Committee BD6-002 Wind Actions on Structures.

• AWES Committee for the Quality Assurance Manual for Wind Engineering and the Wind Loading Handbook

• CTBUH Committee Member for Wind Engineering and Damper Design as well as Scientific Expert Peer Review Committee

• Visiting Lecturer, University of NSW
Experience

Tony has over 33 years’ combined experience as both researcher and consultant in wind engineering including 30years with Windtech Consultants, a global consulting firm specialising in the study of wind effects and sustainable design. Tony is one of Windtech’s founding directors and has been with the firm since its establishment in April, 1991. His research includes reliability of wind tunnel studies, interference excitation of tall buildings, analysis techniques to accurately determine the effect of coupled modes and rigidly linked sub-structures and well as Wind Noise in Buildings, Natural Ventilation and review of assessment Criteria for Pedestrian Comfort.

Tony Rofail has undertaken and supervised over 2,500 wind engineering studies including wind tunnel investigations for various high-rise buildings, large roof and stadium building projects around the world, including many landmark projects.

Facilitator : Bhavin Shah- Founder & CEO, SQVe Consultants

With an overall experience of two decades in the different kinds of industries like Oil & gas, Thermal power, manufacturing, etc. and with a zeal of knowledge sharing, he has conducted various sessions for the practicing engineers, academicians & students. He worked in the Engineering department of the reputed firms such as L&T, Adani and VMS. He is pursuing Ph.D. in structural engineering. Recently, he has launched startup named as SQVe Consultants with a vision to enhance the engineering profession. For more details about SQVe Consultants : https://sqveconsultants.com