Wind loading interference effects among eight grouped large cooling towers with rectangular arrangement

Substantial pressure measurement model tests were undertaken in atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnels around the world in recent years for wind engineering design of grouped large cooling towers. However, the current design practice based on the pressure measurement technique should be verified with respect to the identification of the unfavorable wind direction. Based on the engineering background of Wuhu Nuclear Power Plant with eight grouped cooling towers of rectangular arrangement, the present study demonstrates the correctness of the state-of-the-art wind engineering design practice employing the global aerodynamic forces measured in the wind tunnel to determine the unfavorable wind direction. It is also found that the force balance model test is a technique of potential in helpfully replacing the traditional pressure measurement experiment for obtaining the global aerodynamic forces. With reference to additional computational fluid dynamics results, the flow physics behind the phenomena observed for a typical unfavorable wind direction scenario in the present pressure measurement test is discussed to interpret the wind loading interference effects exerted on large cooling towers from the view of the fundamental fluid mechanism. © 2024 Institution of Structural Engineers.