Dynamic analysis of a concrete chimney considering the aerodynamic damping

Abstract Usually, the analysis of structures under wind loading is performed using an equivalent static analysis, where the influence of floating response is taken into account by the gust factor. This methodology can be used in case of rigid structures for not presenting a considerable dynamic response. More flexible structures, in particular those lightly damped, may show an important resonant response and their dynamic properties must be considered in the analysis. The aim of this paper is to present a methodology for dynamic analysis of structures under wind loading considering the geometric nonlinearity, the vibration caused by the kinetic energy of wind gusts and the aerodynamic damping due to the relative movement between this structure and the wind. The formulation proposed is applied to a 180-meter-high concrete chimney and the results were compared with those obtained through the recommendation given in the standard ABNT NBR 6123:1988 [2] for the dynamic structural analysis.