Characteristics of Zonda wind in South American Andes
Acir M. Loredo-Souza,Adrian R. Wittwer,Hugo G. Castro,Matthew B. Vallis1
Abstract
This paper discusses some features and conditions that characterize the Zonda wind, focusing particularly on the implications for wind engineering applications. This kind of wind, typical of mountainous regions, is far from being adequately characterized for computational simulations and proper modeling in experimental facilities such as boundary layer wind tunnels. The objective of this article is to report the research works that are being developed on this kind of wind, describing the main obtained results, and also to establish some general guidelines for the proper analysis of the Zonda in the wind engineering context. A classification for the Zonda wind is indicated and different cases of structural and environmental effects are described. Available meteorological data is analyzed from the wind engineering point of view to obtain the Zonda wind gust factors, as well as basic wind speeds relevant for structural design. Some considerations and possible directions for the Zonda wind-tunnel and computational modeling are provided. Gust factor values larger than those used for open terrain were obtained, nevertheless, the basic wind speed values obtained are similar to values presented by the Argentinian Wind Code for three-second gust, principally at Mendoza airport.
Key Words
Zonda wind characteristics; katabatic wind; topographic effects; Zonda wind effects on structures and environment; field measurements
Address
Acir M. Loredo-Souza and Matthew B. Vallis1 — Laboratorio de Aerodinamica das Construcoes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, PO Box 15035, Postal Code 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Adrian R. Wittwer — Laboratorio de Aerodinamica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste,Postal Code 3500, Resistencia, Argentina
Hugo G. Castro — Grupo de Investigacion en Mecanica de Fluidos, Instituto de Modelado e Innovación Tecnologica - CONICET,Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Facultad Regional Resistencia, (H3500CHJ) Chaco, Argentina
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