Prediction of Self-Excited Vibrations in Large-Span Cantilevered Roofs Subjected to High Winds

This paper proposes a simplified prediction of self-excited vibration in large-span cantilevered roofs, which can in turn be used to assess aerodynamic instability. The prediction is based on the rule that vibrations exist only if the wind-induced added stiffness is dynamically consistent with roof motion, and then the instability is determined based on the stiffness and damping of the wind-structure system. 2D rigid roof models with the first rotational mode were adopted. Firstly, the effectiveness of vibration prediction was excellently demonstrated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Secondly, the critical conditions were derived and aerodynamic properties measured in wind tunnel tests were applied to calculate the safe structural parameters.