Aeroelastic Response of a Large Suspension Roof: Wind Tunnel Tests and Numerical Simulations

This study examines the aeroelastic behavior of "The Wave," a lightweight, suspended canopy structure spanning 120 meters between two buildings in Milan. Given its unique geometry, lightweight construction, and exposure to the wind-altering influence of nearby skyscrapers, predicting the canopy’s dynamic response to wind is challenging. To address this, researchers conducted a three-step analysis involving wind tunnel tests on a rigid scale model, numerical simulations of the canopy’s dynamic response, and aeroelastic testing on a 1:70 scale model. The rigid model tests provided pressure data, while the numerical simulations helped assess vibration sensitivity and static wind loads. Aeroelastic tests confirmed the canopy’s susceptibility to resonant effects, setting an optimal damping ratio near 10%. These tests also validated the structure’s stability up to 1.2 times the design wind speed, with a return period of 1,000 years. Findings demonstrate the critical role of aeroelastic testing and simulation in ensuring stability for large-scale, lightweight structures, with implications for similar future designs.