Internal pressure in real flexible porous buildings: A design perspective

Abstract

Analytical and associated numerical investigations of the fluctuating internal pressures induced through a dominant opening in real buildings with leaky and flexible envelopes are undertaken. The damping effect of these factors both separately and in combination are quantified using Root Mean Square (RMS) internal pressure coefficients and equivalent damping ratios for a range of envelope flexibilities and background porosities for the case of the Texas Tech University (TTU) test building. In particular, the equivalent damping ratio and the RMS internal pressure coefficient for the TTU building with a flexibility parameter of 2 and porosity ratio of 20% is found to be around 4 times higher and 27% lower than for a rigid non-porous TTU building. Simulated ratios of the RMS internal pressures and the peak spectral response of internal pressure for leaky and flexible buildings to that of rigid, nonporous envelopes are presented in non-dimensional format for a range of building volumes, opening areas and porosity ratios. Additionally non-dimensional charts of the RMS internal to external pressure ratios for real flexible and leaky envelopes are presented in a form suitable for design purposes.