Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), NSF NHERI 2024: Aerodynamic Wind Load Assessment of Parallel Solar Panels: Evaluating Surface-Rooftop Pressure Correlations

Wind loads on parallel photovoltaic (PV) panel arrays mounted on low-rise roofs were investigated using an open-circuit, atmospheric boundary-layer wind tunnel. Specifically, the pressure coefficients on the bottom surface of the PV and the rooftop were compared. This study aimed to evaluate a new testing method where pressure taps are placed on the rooftop of a model instead of the bottom surface of the PV panel, significantly reducing testing time and data errors. These results will aid researchers who can implement these results in future tests to improve aerodynamic PV testing efficiency.